Columbia Public Schools students who graduated with associate degree happy they did

Clarissa Turner will attend Saint Louis University in the fall, to study biology on the way to a medical degree.

Gabriel Fortel will be at Truman State University, studying psychology.

Adelina Delgado will attend the University of Missouri, to study engineering.

Oliver Petsinger will be at Columbia College in the fall, studying management information systems.

The four were recognized Thursday in a reception for Columbia Public Schools seniors who graduated through the Early College program. The partnership with Moberly Area Community College allows the students to graduate with an associate degree at the same time they receive their high school diploma, at no cost.

Thirty-six students graduated with associate degrees in May, but these four were the only ones at the reception.

"It helped prepare me," said Clarissa of the program. "I feel like I know what to expect more."

She did it while in marching band, the varsity cheer squad and varsity soccer at Battle High School, said her mom, Liz Turner.

"I could not be more proud of her and her efforts," her mother said.

There were some tears, Clarissa said.

"The only way to get through it is to get through it and I did," Clarissa said.

Her instructors at MACC were very accommodating, she said.

The experience taught him study habits he will use at Truman State, Gabriel said.

"I think it's really fantastic," said Gabriel, a Hickman High School graduate. "It allowed me to get ahead."

It was manageable, but difficult, he said.

"I just needed to step up my game," he said.

His mom, Jenny Fortel, said she thinks Gabriel's participation in the program is a big reason he got a scholarship from Truman State.

"It has helped develop him as a student and an independent student," she said.

She said every student should consider the program to ease the debt load if they attend a university.

Adelina said finishing the program made her feel "accomplished."

It wasn't as difficult as she thought it would be, the Hickman graduate said.

It's a good feeling to have two years of college out of the way at no cost, she said.

"I'm very, very happy," she said.

Oliver, also a Hickman graduate, had a part-time job and took all his MACC classes online. It was ideal for him because he said he's not a "people person."

"It was great," he said. "It was a wonderful experience."

He was there with his grandmother, Jackie Craig, who praised the program and CPS advanced studies coordinator Dru Nash during the reception.

Former CPS Superintendent Peter Stiepleman, speaking before the reception, said the genesis of the program was a 2018 leadership trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, sponsored by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, with school board members and administrators participating.

The school district there had a similar partnership with a community college.

"It's gratifying to see that it has not only taken root, but has thrived," Stiepleman said.

His family is moving from Columbia in a few days, he said.

Many of the students walked in the graduation ceremony at MACC, said MACC President Jeff Lashley.

"I think this is just a model way to partner and collaborate," Lashley said of the program.

The students should be proud of themselves, Nash said during the brief ceremony.

"It's a big deal what you have done, to step into the unknown," Nash said.

This is a great start, said current CPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood.

"Let's keep this going," Yearwood said. "We want to see this program continue to grow."

Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: CPS students who graduated with associate degree happy they did