It’s impressive enough that six Garrett County Public Schools graduating seniors earned associate degrees this year at Garrett College. The fact that all six graduated with honors just makes it that much more special.
Marisa Perez, one of four Northern Garrett High seniors to earn an associate degree this year, was honored at Garrett College’s commencement for highest grade-point average among graduates completing at least 60 credit hours at GC.
“The most challenging part was learning to create a balance with everything at once,” said Perez. “Since I began pursuing my degree later in high school, I took college courses year-round for two consecutive years. This definitely taught me how to manage my time and make sure I allocated enough time to study for my courses, while still leaving time for myself and my hobbies.”
The six students were all members of the Laker Institute, a collaborative effort between Garrett College and Garrett County Public Schools that provides a pathway to an associate’s degree by the time students graduate from high school. Participation in Laker Institute permits students to begin taking select college courses as early as their freshman year in high school.
“It has long been a goal of mine to provide this opportunity for our students,” said Paul Edwards, GCPS director of instruction. “I am very happy that Blueprint [the state’s educational reform legislation] pushed us in this direction and that our students can not only earn the associate degree concurrently to their high school diploma, but thrive academically in the collegiate environment.
“The partnership between Garrett County Public Schools and Garrett College is second to none, and this is another example of working together to do great things for students,” added Edwards.
“Earning a college degree while completing high school requires an exceptional level of commitment,” said Director of Admissions and Recruitment Melissa Wass, who oversees the College’s HSDE program. “Each of these students embraced the challenge with determination and perseverance. Having the opportunity to support them along the way and witness their growth has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work.”
“It definitely takes a lot of time management,” said Cadence Natividad, one of two Southern Garrett High seniors who earned an associate degree this year. “The partnership between Garrett College and Garrett County Public Schools made it manageable, and the professors were very understanding and accommodating.”
“The hardest thing was balancing volleyball practice with late labs,” said Braelyn Zimmerman, who also graduated from both Garrett College and Southern Garrett High. “I had chemistry lab until 5 p.m. It was definitely a challenge, but my volleyball coach really worked with my schedule.”
In addition to earning an associate’s degree, Northern Garrett’s Eoin Elica had a class that’s been helpful with one of his community activities.
“I really liked my medical terminology class,” said Elica. “I thought it was super-fun. I volunteer as an EMT, and I’ve found myself using the things I learned in class a lot.”
“A lot of the classes were challenging,” observed Lucas Oliveira, who graduated from Northern Garrett. “My favorite class was meteorology – I just thought it was very interesting.”
“The accomplishments of these graduates remind us that talent and ambition can flourish when students are given the opportunity,” said Associate Dean Kim DeGiovanni, who also serves as the College’s registrar. “Whether their future leads to an operating room, a classroom, a research lab, or public service, they have already shown they are ready for the challenge.”
“We’re very proud of what these six students accomplished,” said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president. “It’s a tribute to them and to the strong relationship between Garrett College and Garrett County Public Schools. We’re working together with one goal in mind – to help every student achieve their educational goals.”
Midcap also noted that Garrett County Government is a key partner in the initiative through the Garrett County Scholarship Program (GCSP).
“Garrett College discounts High School Dual Enrollment tuition by 50 percent, and the GCSP covers the other 50 percent,” said Midcap. “It’s an incredible option for local students and their families.”
All six students will be continuing their postsecondary education this fall, with four – Perez, Natividad, Oliveira, and Brice Roche – attending the University of Maryland College Park. Elica will be attending Johns Hopkins University, while Zimmerman will be attending WVU Potomac State with plans to transfer to West Virginia University.
All six students were able to stay involved in extracurricular activities even while completing an associate’s degree and earning a high school diploma. Natividad was the poster child for multitasking, serving as the student member of the Garrett County Board of Education, Student Council president, varsity tennis captain, and mock trial participant.
“I always say, ‘If it’s important to you, you have time for it,’ ” remarked Natividad. “I did my entire senior year at Garrett College and my extracurricular activities at the high school. It made for some long days for me, for sure – but I was able to get everything done.”
“If anybody is on the fence about doing it, I’d say just do it,” Zimmerman said of completing an associate’s degree while still in high school. “It gets you a lot closer to your end goal, and gives you more opportunities to get classes that are going to help you with your career.”
Perez agreed.
If any high school students are considering earning an associate’s degree while in high school, I would say 100 percent go for it,” said Perez. “It provides both short- and long-term advantages for future academic endeavors. Whether it’s getting a head start on your career, exploring different career paths, or saving money on tuition, the partnership between Garrett College and Garrett County Public Schools opens doors that wouldn’t otherwise be available.”
Photo Cutline: Six members of Garrett County Public Schools’ Class of 2026 also earned associate degrees through Garrett College. The dual graduates are pictured, left to right: Braelyn Zimmerman, Cadence Natividad, Marisa Perez, Eoin Elica, Brice Roche, and Lucas Oliveira.
