Twenty-Seven Jump Start students graduated from Western Nevada College Monday, before receiving high school diplomas.

WNCs two-year-old accelerated academic program is giving high school students a chance to expedite their higher education requirements while saving money.

The college is delighted to honor high school students from the Carson, Churchill, Lyon, and Storey County school districts who graduated with an Associate of Arts degree on Monday, May 23^rd, said WNC Dean of Student Services John Kinkella. These students have participated in a rigorous dual-credit program in a partnership between the high schools and Western Nevada College designed to promote college degree attainment.

Northern Nevada students attending various high schools and academies, as well as home-school students, are enrolled in WNCs Jump Start College. Students can complete up to 60 credits and earn an associate degree by the time they graduate from high school. In many cases, their school districts are covering the costs for their tuition and books at WNC.

The graduates are from Fernley, Churchill County, Pioneer, Virginia City and Yerington high schools.

We are very proud of the Jump Start College students for their hard work, and very grateful to the parents for their strong support, Kinkella said. The college is especially thankful to the district superintendents and to the high school principals and counselors who have been real educational leaders in our state.

With their high school diplomas and associate degrees in hand, many of these Jump Start students will attend the University of Nevada, UNLV and a number of out-of-state colleges in the fall.