By Terry Leas, Riverland Comm. College

This year, more than 600 of Riverland&8217;s students are high-school-aged students earning college credits through the Post Secondary Enrollment Options program. The program has two models:

Concurrent enrollment classes are offered at select high schools in collaboration with Riverland and allow students to earn high school and college credits without leaving their school. PSEO college students similarly earn high school and college credits by taking courses at a Riverland Community College facility.

Consider these three examples:

Roberta Raskin, daughter of Candace Raskin, superintendent of Austin Public Schools, participated in Riverland&8217;s concurrent enrollment program at Austin High School and graduated in 2006. By earning Riverland concurrent credits, along with credits from advanced placement classes, she will graduate from the University of Minnesota in just three years. She was able to complete the high school experience &8212; dance team, student council, editor of the school newspaper, friends, prom, etc., still meet her academic needs and enter the university with her first year of college almost completed. Roberta also was accepted at Ohio State University where all of her credits were accepted.

The next two students participated in the PSEO college program. Although not all PSEO students attend Riverland full time, these students took classes exclusively at Riverland facilities during their junior and senior years. They will graduate this year from Riverland with an associate in arts degree and a diploma from their respective high school.

Kayla Jorgenson from Albert Lea High School is transferring to the University of Wisconsin – Stout to major in hotel, restaurant management and tourism. Kayla, who attended classes on both the Albert Lea and Austin Campuses, felt ready for a college atmosphere and thought that Riverland was a good transition between high school and a four-year university.

Alexandra Griffith from El Shaddai High School in Owatonna plans to transfer to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where all but three of her credits were accepted. Alexandra attended Riverland classes exclusively at the Owatonna College & University Center. She also leveraged Riverland&8217;s online learning opportunities by taking one totally online class and other hybrid courses &8212; classes that are primarily online but meet in person a few times per semester. Alexandra was afraid she might miss out on the high school experience but found she was still able to attend high school events. Alexandra said that if a student has the right level of dedication, college provides more flexibility with free time. She explained that attending class with adults and students of all ages presented a different atmosphere, which helped improve her communications skills and confidence.

All three students were able to take advantage of the affordable, convenient options available to Minnesota high school students in a variety of ways to meet their individual needs. For more information about Riverland&8217;s PSEO program, contact a high school counselor or Riverland&8217;s admissions office at (800) 247-5039.

Terry Leas is the president of Riverland Community College. His column appears in the Tribune once a month.