Take a close look at those seven in the photo above: left to right, Laura Sartori, Kyrie Davenport, Jasmine West, Michael Stock, Austin Fields, Bryce Morgan and Maddie Gilliland. Do they look like your typical college graduates?

They’re not.

Last Thursday, I had the privilege to participate in the commencement exercises at Sierra College’s Nevada County Campus, where they earned their AA degrees, along with 45 other students. The Union did a great job covering it this morning.

But those seven will earn another academic honor in just a couple of weeks: their high school diplomas.

Four years ago, Sierra College partnered with Nevada Union High School District to form the Ghidotti Early College High School. These kids all came to our college campus each day, attended high school classes in the morning and college classes in the afternoon. Many of them will graduate with a lot of college credit, but these seven actually completed full degrees during their four years of high school.

It’s an amazing accomplishment. It just proves that when you challenge kids, they step up and meet the challenge.

We need more of this kind of innovation in education.

Photo Credit: The Union / John Hart