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�鶹Ӱ�� Middle College High School graduate Fallon Kichman-Heath has already completed two years of College after completing her Associate in Engineering while in high school. 

Kichman-Heath is the first Middle College student to earn an Associate in Engineering, which began being offered at �鶹Ӱ�� in 2016. 

Born in China, Kichman-Heath was adopted at 13-months and relocated to Mebane, NC with her parents, and has been in North Carolina ever since. At just 17, Kichman-Heath now has her high school diploma and associate degree. 

Kichman-Heath’s older brother introduced her to the Middle College program after he participated in the program. 

Since the sixth grade, she said she has been planning her future. She took advanced-level classes at a young age with the goal to transfer to �鶹Ӱ�� with as many classes as possible so she could focus on taking college courses. 

“My family and I saw it as a great opportunity to take real college courses and earn an Associate degree while still in high school,” said Kichman-Heath. “The fact that the state also pays for two years of college was a great benefit coming from a single income household.” 

The Middle College High School at �鶹Ӱ�� provides qualified high school juniors and seniors in �鶹Ӱ�� Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and Orange County Public Schools system to enroll in college courses for credit at no cost to the student. 

While at �鶹Ӱ��, she also joined Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, volunteered with the Refugee Community Partnership organization, the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center and a local horse stable. 

“My overall experience at �鶹Ӱ�� was great,” said Kichman-Heath. “My entire first year at �鶹Ӱ�� was online which I personally enjoyed as it allowed me to work at my own pace and have more flexibility in my schedule.” 

In the Fall, Kichman-Heath will start at North Carolina State University as a junior to complete her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. She also hopes to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. 

“Graduating is such a relief, and I am so glad to be starting my new chapter of my education at NCSU. I am very proud of the fact that I completed my AE and high school diploma at the same time,” said Kichman-Heath. 

Muffy Vestal, chair of the engineering program, taught Kichman-Heath in one of her engineering classes and said she was a special student. 

“Fallon will become an outstanding engineer. She routinely demonstrates her communication, problem-solving, and time management skills. And she pays attention to details and knows how to work productively on a team. The profession needs young people like Fallon,” said Vestal. 

For more information, contact Desiree Towson, M.S., Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu.