Armuchee High School senior Caden Graves has been named the Dual Enrollment Student of the Year for the entire state of Georgia, a prestigious honor bestowed at the 2025 Governor’s Workforce Summit on Monday. Graves was recognized for his exemplary commitment to higher education and career preparedness through years of study at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) while attending high school.

Graves stood out among his peers, being the only student to receive this specific designation and one of just five award recipients recognized at the summit.

Expressing humility and gratitude, Graves remarked on the significance of the award. “I am humbled to receive the award and grateful that my hard work paid off,” he said, crediting his support system. “My mom and dad have supported me and given me the guidance I needed to excel in my high school career. I have been blessed with an amazing learning environment that fosters growth and helps me to achieve more than I imagined possible.”

This marks a historic achievement for Floyd County Schools (FCS), as Graves is the first student from the district to earn this distinction. Alison Lansdell, FCS Dual Enrollment Coordinator, praised Graves as “an excellent example of a dual enrollment student,” highlighting his engagement in both academic and career-based courses at Armuchee High and GNTC, taking full advantage of the opportunities at the College and Career Academy (CCA).

John Rhodarmer, CEO of the FCS College and Career Academy, echoed Lansdell’s sentiments. “We have some amazing students in Floyd County, and Caden is one of those,” he stated, commending Graves as a great representative of local students.

The dual enrollment program, a cornerstone of educational opportunity in Floyd County, is a collaborative effort between county high schools, the CCA, and local institutions like GNTC and Georgia Highlands College. It allows students to earn valuable college credit for courses taken at their high school, the CCA, or on partnering college campuses. These courses span both academic and career-based subjects, providing students with essential skills and experience to ease their transition out of high school.

“A lot of students leave with core college credits,” Lansdell explained. “They’ve done a gradual step into college rather than a drastic step right out of high school.”

FCS emphasizes a tailored approach to student career planning. As students enter high school, counselors and administrators work diligently to identify their goals and guide them toward the most suitable dual enrollment pathways. “Our counselors, our system principals and administrators do an excellent job advising our students on what is the best fit for them,” Rhodarmer stated. “The process is very much driven towards what is your career plan, what are your future goals, and what can we help you do right now to help you be successful?”

Graves attributed much of his success to these supportive structures. “I have been able to jump-start my college career through the dual enrollment program and even my future career path through the Robotics and Engineering program at the CCA,” he said, emphasizing the “industrial certifications and vital knowledge” he gained through these classes. “I am truly blessed to receive this honor and to have a school system that strives to push me to achieve the best.”

Looking ahead, Graves plans to leverage his certifications and experience immediately. He will begin an internship in the transmissions department at Georgia Power after graduation, putting his early career preparation into practice.