Moraine Park Technical College is celebrating the efforts of Start College Now student and Ripon High School (RHS) senior, Miya Grunert for her commitment to educational excellence. As a member of the RHS Class of 2024, Grunert took advantage of Moraine Park’s dual enrollment offerings and when she graduates later this month, she will have already earned 38 college credits.
This dedication will allow Grunert to begin her first full year at Moraine Park with over half of her graphic design associate degree completed. She will be eligible to graduate with her associate degree when she has earned 64 credits and has completed all program requirements. If Grunert elects to be a full-time college student, she could graduate as early as May 2025.
“I really enjoyed my graphic arts classes my freshman year of high school and quickly learned that I could combine a lot of the skills learned in those classes, with my love and passion for photography, to create different designs and posters,” Grunert said. “When the high school photoshop class would not fit in my schedule, my counselor recommended the Start College Now Program at Moraine Park. After that class, I knew that I wanted to continue with the Graphic Design program at Moraine Park.”
Moraine Park offers robust dual enrollment opportunities, which includes both the Start College Now program and dual credit course opportunities.
The Start College Now program allows eligible 11th and 12th grade students enrolled in a Wisconsin public high school to enroll in Moraine Park courses to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Students apply directly to their high school for approval to the Start College Now program. The school district pays 100% of the tuition, fees, and required textbooks and course materials, and students attend classes at one of Moraine Park’s campuses.
Dual credit courses provide students with the opportunity to take college level courses and earn credit without leaving their high school. The courses are taught by high school instructors that are certified to teach dual credit courses and the classes use technical college curriculum, grading policies and textbooks.
“Most of my classes have been online and are flexible enough to work around my other high school classes, work and extracurricular activities,” Grunert said. “My InDesign class helped me design the Ripon Area School District’s Annual Calendar. I also loved the fact that I was not only earning credits for high school, but for my graphic design degree.”
Each year, Moraine Park offers thousands of dual enrollment opportunities to high school students throughout the district. In 2023, district high school students earned 10,917 college credits.
For more information on Moraine Park’s dual enrollment offerings, visit morainepark.edu/k-12-resources.