That is because those 10 students will receive degrees from Iowa Central Community College today after completing course work as part of the High School Partnerships program.

Ava Andrew, Jonah Carlson, Grace Fuller, Thomas Knobbe, Jakob Koopman, Anna Lursen, Lucy Midtling, Faith Shirbroun, Ava Underberg and Max Webster will all be recognized by Iowa Central before doing the same at St. Edmond on May 17.

Carlson, Fuller, Lursen, Midtling and Underberg were each inducted into the Iowa Central Honor Society.

“Being able to earn my Associate of Arts and Science degrees while in high school has been so rewarding,” Andrew said. “My classmates and I have devoted countless hours to our college coursework while already managing demanding schedules. With graduation this week, I am so proud of my classmates and myself, who have finally received the recognition we have all been working so hard for.

“Earning my associate’s degree before graduating high school could not feel any better; it was not always easy. Because many of us began taking college classes during freshman year, it was a big leap. While we were just beginning to learn about due dates, time management skills and responsibilities, we were now using those skills to complete college-level assignments. Not every night was easy; many nights called for no sleep and way too much screentime on our computers, but through it all, we were always there for each other, pushing each other to be the best.”

Like many of her classmates, Andrew has been involved in athletics and activities at St. Edmond, which cut into her study and prep time.

“Taking a rigorous class load did not just affect my school load, but it also affected my entire high school experience,” she said. “As a heavily involved student who participated in committees, sports, musicals and community service, it cut down on the amount of time I could spend being a kid. By gaining experience in always being busy, I learned to balance my life so I could get all of my assignments done, go to practices and also have time to spend with my friends.

“All in all, I have finally done it, and am now ready for anything life throws my way.”

That includes heading to the University of South Dakota in the fall to study nursing.

Koopman, a member of the recent state basketball championship team at St. Edmond, plans to turn his associate degree into joining the workforce while also continuing his education.

“It was difficult,” he said. “There were nights where I was tired and didn’t want to do homework or tests, but I had to. It really helped me understand the importance of time management after starting my eighth-grade summer towards taking classes for my AA.

“It is very rewarding and feels like I have a weight lifted off my shoulders now.”

Sam Harms, the high school and middle school counselor at St. Edmond, is there to offer support every step of the way through the process. She also emphasizes the value in what the students are working towards.

“Students that are getting an AA in high school are able to save money and time when they go off to college,” Harms said. “It also allows them the flexibility to take courses online or on-campus in a smaller environment than some of the bigger colleges they are going to go to.

“Students need to be able to plan ahead and accordingly on how to achieve both high school and college credit. Many of the students that are getting their AA are involved in multiple activities, so their time management skills and determination are critical to their success.”