10 students graduate high school with college degrees in southern IL

VIENNA, Ill. (KBSI) – For more than a decade, Vienna High School has had multiple students who have marched to pomp and circumstance back-to-back.

Superintendent Josh Stafford says that 10 seniors in this class of 2024 have completed their requirements for high school, but also completed their associates degrees. They earned them at Shawnee Community College or Southeastern Illinois College.

“All ten are graduating with their associates degree completed, and all of them have career plans and university plans moving forward,” said Stafford.

Collectively, the 2024 class completed 2,000 credit hours towards their college degrees through dual credit and enrollment partnerships.

“So really kind of a unique situation our early college dual credit programming allows them to do that. They have a lot of access, to college classes while they’re in high school,” added Stafford.

These hours were completed by dual credit classes in high school, and some students attended classes at the college. Both online and on campus courses were offered for the students.

“So for the last decade we’ve actually had numerous students graduate with their associates degree before they graduate from high school,” said Stafford. “It’s been a rewarding thing to watch, and it certainly takes a lot of grit and determination on behalf of the young people who choose to do that. But we are excited to watch them do that again this year.”