High School Dual Enrollment (HSDE) and Advanced Placement (AP) are two complimentary strategies to accelerate a college career. Marisa Perez not only participated in both, she focused an AP research project on HSDE in a unique twist.
“The impact this program [HSDE through Garrett College] had on me sparked a genuine interest in dual enrollment,” said Perez. “That ultimately inspired me to complete my AP Research Performance Task on that topic.”
Perez – one of six Garrett County Public Schools seniors to earn a Garrett College degree this spring – said she observed “a gap in existing research” in HSDE. She said her research – which earned a score of five, the top score for the AP Research Assessment – gave her “meaningful insight into students’ experiences within the program.”
“Most studies focus on the outcomes of dual enrollment or college students’ motivation,” Perez explained. “There is little research examining the motivations of high-achieving rural high school students who enroll in academic dual enrollment courses.”
Perez employed a “mixed-method design” in her research project. She obtained qualitative input by interviewing 10 students to identify common themes, and then created a quantitative survey based on those findings that was completed by 42 Garrett County dual enrollment students.
“The strongest extrinsic motivator was earning college credit,” reported Perez, noting that it received the highest average rating (4.19 on a five-point Likert scale). “Getting a head start on a career was closely related, with a mean of 4.17, which was also statistically significant.”
Perez said the study “reinforced the value of having accessible rural dual enrollment programs and suggests directions for future research on student motivation and rural dual enrollment.”
Perez did more than just earn her associate degree this year while still a high school senior. At Garrett College’s commencement, she was honored with the annual award for Highest Grade-Point Average. Perez said strong organizational skills were a key to her achievements.
“Although managing all of my commitments was challenging, it taught me just how important time management and creating a healthy balance are,” said Perez, who played three high school sports per school year, took multiple AP courses, and remained active in her school and community.
“During my senior year, I took most of my Garrett College courses on campus, which meant traveling back and forth between the high school and college multiple days a week,” recalled Perez. “On other days, I had to work with my coaches and teachers to fit a 5 p.m. lab into my sports schedule.”
Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president, said Perez’s accomplishments were “extraordinarily impressive.”
“I’ve been involved in HSDE for over 30 years,” said Midcap, whose doctoral dissertation was focused on the HSDE experiences of Chesapeake College students. “I’ve seen a fair number of high school seniors earn associate degrees. I’ve never seen any of those students – until Marisa – finish with the highest grade-point average of her graduating college class. Everyone at Garrett College is impressed with her accomplishments.”
“Organization and planning are non-negotiable,” Perez said of her experience. “From the very beginning, I had multiple meetings with both my high school counselor and college advisors, who went above and beyond to help create a personalized plan for me to reach my goals.
“The program can definitely be challenging,” added Perez, who will be studying psychology at the University of Maryland College Park this fall, “but if you are willing to put in the effort, it’s a rewarding opportunity that can have a lasting impact on your future.”
Photo cutline: Marisa Perez was a member of the Class of 2026 at both Northern Garrett High School and Garrett College. Perez (center) is pictured with Garrett College Chief Academic Officer Christa Bowser (left) and Garrett College President Dr. Richard Midcap receiving the award for Highest Grade-Point Average at Garrett College’s 2026 commencement exercises.
