VIENNA, Ill. -- Year after year, high school students are graduating and are looking to further their education by focusing on courses in the direction of their career choices. However, some high school graduates are getting their college degrees a little earlier than normal.
That's the case with the Vienna Class of 2024 as well. In fact, students have been graduating with college degrees while obtaining their high school diplomas for more than a decade now out of Vienna schools.
This year, the Vienna School District has announced 10 high school graduates who are walking across the stage after completing their requirements on the high school level, but also completed requirements for associate's degrees on a collegiate level, from either Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) or Shawnee Community College (SCC).
These senior students (colleges attended) are Sara Grace Beggs (SCC), Chloe Grace Capron (SCC), Gabriel Lee Duncan (SCC), Jaycie Lorene Hefner (SCC), Jillian Grace Jones (SIC), Shaylee Nichole Moore (SCC), Damien Christopher Roberts (SCC), Isaac Dale Smith (SCC), Cameron Faith Tregoning (SCC), and Brianna Michelle White (SCC).
The class has also completed over 2.000 credit hours towards their college degrees through the dual credit/enrollment partnerships. The students earned the credits at the high school, attended classes at the college, and/or through online classes.
“It has been good to watch as early college programming has grown in Vienna and all over the nation. While the accomplishment of these ten students is very impressive it is also remarkable to note that nearly all of the Vienna graduates have completed some amount of college credit while in high school. Over 50% have completed at least two semesters,� said Venna School District Superintendent Joshua Stafford.
The Vienna School District will hold graduation on Friday, May 17, at 6 p.m.
Vienna is a career-connected early college high school offering over 125 dual credit hours, numerous career pathways, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved college and career pathway endorsements (CCPE), and comprehensive career service that provide career road maps for all students. More information about Vienna’s career connection work can be found .
