In May 2018, Susannah “Reilly” Phillips achieved not only her high school diploma but also her Associate in Arts degree from Wilkes Community College. Reilly had participated in the Career and College Promise program since her junior year, which allowed her to receive dual credit for courses satisfying high school requirements taken in college-level classes. Reilly plans to attend either NC State University or Appalachian State University to pursue a career in engineering or math and will have 62 college credit hours that transfer towards her four-year degree. Through the Career and College Promise program, Reilly earned sufficient credits for her to enter a four-year university as a junior rather than as a freshman.
Before leaving 8th grade, Reilly had already decided she did not want to follow the traditional high school path and began her 9th grade year at WECHS where she won the first Miss WECHS homecoming. She later transitioned to homeschooling, and her high school classes were fulfilled through college classes. She averaged 15-16 credit hours a semester, maintained a GPA of 3.4 or higher, and also worked 15-20 hours per week at a part time job. She has been active in theater productions at WCC, volunteered at Millers Creek Elementary School, provides nurturing for shelter animals, has helped deliver meals with Samaritan’s Kitchen, and attends Millers Creek United Methodist Church.
Reilly is the youngest daughter of Chuck and Kendra Phillips of Deep Gap, N.C. She has two sisters attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and one sister attending Appalachian State University. Her sisters were not aware of the Career and College Promise program and completed high school in a traditional format. However, thanks to being home schooled and also qualifying for the Career and College Promise program, Reilly will begin college with two years already completed, placing her at the same college level as both of her sisters!