Five DeKalb County High School students had a couple of reasons to celebrate last week. Not only did they receive their high school diplomas, but they were also announced as having earned a college degree.
Setson Agee, Chandler Johnson, Emma Johnson, Ryder Miller, and Layla Walker are each now college graduates after earning an associate degree from Motlow State Community College. On Monday, May 8, each were presented their degree in a Motlow ceremony at MTSU in Murfreesboro. The students earned their degrees through Motlow’s dual enrollment program, where high school students can earn college credits through on-line courses, while still enrolled in high school.
Students who have completed their sophomore year and have met all requirements for taking the desired college courses may apply. Public, private and home-schooled students are all welcome to apply. The program gives students the chance to seamlessly transition from high school to college. The core curriculum credits transfer easily to Tennessee’s public colleges and universities while allowing students who are working on a four-year degree to save money on tuition.
“It is very exciting,” said Agee. “It took a lot of hard work. A majority of my classes from my junior and senior years were Motlow classes. I was very nervous at the beginning, but when I got my degree I was very happy.” Agee is the son of Michael and Kelly Agee, and said he will be going to MTSU to major in agriculture science.
Walker said the hard work was good for her. “I took a lot of classes throughout my high school career and I’m really excited to be done with it. The classes were very long and hard, but it was a good thing in the end.” Layla is the daughter of Edward and Penny Walker, and plans to attend Tennessee Tech to further her education in business management.
Emma Johnson is the daughter of Kelly Davis and Jeff Johnson, and said she is happy to have a head start in college. “It was really exciting. It was a lot of hard work and I feel that it was good for all of us to get that head start in college. It was a good thing to do.” Emma said she will be going into the nursing program at Tennessee Tech.
“It was definitely challenging,” said Chandler Johnson. “I am glad it’s over. It helps me with two years because I want to be a physician. I plan to go on to Tennessee Tech to major in biology with a health science concentration and then after that to med school because I want to become a physician,” he said. He is the son of Dustin and Kristie Johnson.
Miller is the son of Jason and Kacy Miller and said he had started thinking about one day taking the dual enrollment path as early as his middle school years. “I owe this experience all to God and my Lord Jesus Christ. It was something I have been wanting to do for a very long time and now I am glad I have a little bit of a head start.” Miller will be working on his bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Tennessee Tech University, then plans on attending Life College in Georgia, a chiropractic school, to be a licensed chiropractor.
