Grads earn CMC associate degrees, high school diplomas in same year
This month four local, graduating high school seniors achieved a rare feat: They also donned caps and gowns for graduation at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards.
Marisol Chacon, Reagen Gass and Tiffany Sheehy from Eagle Valley High School and Maria Villarreal from Battle Mountain High School all earned Associate of Arts degrees from CMC in the same year they are completing their high school diplomas.
And all have big dreams that will benefit from a head start on college.
The graduating seniors stepped onto the fast track by taking concurrent enrollment classes such as English Composition and Psychology through their high schools. For years colleges in the state have offered dual or concurrent enrollment classes, in partnership with local school districts. Through the state’s Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act, high school students can simultaneously earn college or vocational credit toward a postsecondary diploma, certificate or degree at a Colorado college that will also count as credit toward a high school diploma.
In a recent report from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, with 329 Eagle County School district students participating in concurrent enrollment programs, the district was listed as the only new school district in 2012-13 to be among the top 10 schools participating in concurrent enrollment, by student headcount.
Gass headed to L.A. to study fashion
Eighteen-year-old Gass was thrilled to learn she’s been accepted into the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles (site of “Project Runway” season six). She was doubly pleased to discover that she could earn her degree there in two years rather than four. “Every credit I took at CMC transferred,” she said. “The amount I’m saving is ridiculous.”
Gass has always been interested in art and design. By high school she knew she wanted to work in the fashion industry and was eager to start moving toward her goal of design school. Her teachers encouraged concurrent enrollment, and Gass jumped at the opportunity. “It helped to get [general education] courses done while I was here,” she said. “Fashion is incredibly competitive, and getting a two-year head start is a real advantage.”
Gass plans to study textile design. “I’ll be designing the fabric before the designers design the fashions,” she said. Because she has completed so many core requirements, she’ll be able to dive in to her area of interest right away. And she is clearly excited about her school of choice, and with good reason. “Tim Gunn is one of the curriculum directors out there,” she said.
Chacon to pursue double major in psychology, business
Graduating student Chacon is not only getting a head start on college, she’s finishing high school a year early. She will have concurrently earned her high school diploma and her Associate of Arts degree in just three years.
Chacon began taking CMC classes as a freshman and never looked back. “It’s really amazing how many CE (concurrent enrollment) classes they offer here,” she said. Chacon’s mother was thrilled when her daughter started taking classes, but now realizes that her 16-year-old will be leaving home sooner than expected.
“It’s a little scary, but I feel ready,” said Chacon. “I wish I could have gone on to university a year ago.” She will begin coursework at Colorado State University in Fort Collins this fall and plans to major in psychology and business. Her hope is to land a marketing job after graduation. “I took a psychology class at CMC last summer, and it reaffirmed what I want to do,” she said.
Chacon noted that taking concurrent classes streamlined her path through high school and forced her to think about her major sooner than most students leaving home for college. For her, the hard work and busy schedule definitely paid off. “I have the first two basic years of college done,” she said, “which will save me a lot of money and time.”