The list of accolades next to Josh Covarrubias’ name in the Penn-Griffin School for the Arts graduation program is long, almost stretching to a second line. Magna cum laude. National Honor Society. Global language endorsement. Arts proficiency endorsement. Citizenship proficiency. National music honor society. Student council.
But there is an additional accolade that will not be reflected in the program, because he is the only student to do it. Josh is the first student in school history to earn an associate degree before he graduated from high school.
His College Transfer Pathway degree will put him two years ahead at UNC Charlotte, where he plans to get a degree in political science before applying to law school.
Josh credits his family with his drive to succeed. His sister, who graduated from Kearns Academy, also took college classes while in high school and suggested that he do the same. His parents also encouraged him to go for his dreams.
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He says he would offer the same advice to his classmates. “Don't be afraid of failing if you're trying to aim for success. I know something my parents would always say or a phrase we always say at home in Spanish is sin miedo al éxito, which is like almost like go big or go home. Like don't be afraid of success.”
Success often means hard work, and Josh is no stranger to it. This will be his first summer with no classes in three years. While completing college classes during the school year, he maintained a full schedule at Penn-Griffin, including a 90-minute block each day in his major, which was band.
Josh played the flute for five years and then switched to percussion for his final two years. He says he enjoyed getting the chance to perform and working together with his classmates to create something special, such as the February 11 performances Penn-Griffin is known for.
Band, he says, also let him step out of his comfort zone. Picking up a new instrument could have been intimidating, but the atmosphere at Penn-Griffin is inclusive and supportive, Josh says, and band instructor Christina Jones was a comforting presence.
So was history teacher Chris Royster, who first inspired his interest in political science and law, leading to his plan to become an international lawyer.
“He'd always like tell us the interesting facts about American history, the crazy coincidences. And I guess it kind of just caught my eye even more.”
But it was Jones, along with senior counselor and magnet coordinator Kim Spell, who believed in him when it came to those college classes and worked with him to make it happen.
“I remember when auditioning for the high school, Miss Jones, the band director, she suggested doing dual enrollment classes because it would also be a way to advance,” Josh says. “So I guess in a way, I probably also wouldn't have gotten my associates if I wouldn't have attended.”
Spell calls Josh a special young man. “He is genuine, compassionate, respectful, and diligent in his approach to everything he is involved in,” she says. “I have total trust in his judgment.”
She goes on, “During the second semester this year (with an overwhelming academic workload), he volunteered to help with the completion of the Yearbook. He was someone I always depended on to help with magnet recruitment each year, no matter the day or hours needed. He represents the best of the best within his peer group.”
