Five Washington high school seniors reached a milestone by earning their Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College before they received their high school diplomas.

They include Luna Cuevas, Ellie Farmer, Brittany Madrigal, Andrew Rees, and Oaklee Sobaski. These students enrolled in dual-credit courses through the Kirkwood Washington Regional Center with no out of pocket tuition expenses. 

Completing an AA degree typically requires 62 or more college credits across a range of subjects, from communication, math, science, humanities, to social sciences. That meant balancing college coursework alongside high school classes, activities, and responsibilities. These hours equal a tuition cost savings of $14,000 or more. 

All five students plan to continue their education at four-year institutions, with some already setting their sights on advanced degrees.