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Keokuk High School senior, Chase Hemann, to graduate with three associate of arts transfer degrees in Criminal Justice, Psychology and Sociology before graduating high school in May through the dual enrollment program at Southeastern Community College in Keokuk.

“I was excited because I knew I could take on the challenge,” Chase Hemann, KHS senior and SCC student, said. “Being able to take the classes [at no cost] was a huge blessing.”

The program provides classes for college and high school credit simultaneously at no cost to regional high school students. According to SCC, Hemann is the first high school student in more than 20 years to earn three degrees before graduating high school. Hemann was already taking advantage of the dual credit program as he worked towards an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice when he learned last Fall that if he took a few extra classes he would also qualify for the Psychology and Sociology degrees. The transfer degrees mean that Hemann could finish his bachelor’s degree in just two years at a four-year college in the three areas of study.

“I wanted to complete as many classes at SCC as I could so that I could get a head start on college, because college is super expensive,” Hemann said.

Hemann plans to major in Criminal Justice at Culver-Stockton College and bowl for his remaining two years of college. I am going to go to Culver-Stockton college to finish my degree as well as bowl there.

“I believe taking on the other two degrees will help me figure out many social problems that I may run into as I grow up,” Hemann added. Learning more about sociology and psychology “has changed my outlook on how I see people today and tomorrow, and [I believe] as long as I am alive.”

There are 40 KHS students in total that have qualified to walk at the SCC graduation this May out of the 65 high school students in the Tri-States that participated in the program at SCC, which included students from KHS, Clark County, Missouri, Central Lee Community School District and Hamilton, Illinois. KHS senior Maribelle Zirkel will also graduate with an associate of arts degree and a Patient Access Certificate. KHS students earned in total, 28 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certificates, three Patient Access Certificates, three Healthcare Assistant Certificates, one Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), one Phlebotomy, one Selling Strategies Certificate and one Building Construction Trades Certificate.

KHS seniors that will receive two stoles and 24 cords include:

Below is a list of all KHS students from grades ninth through twelfth that are able to walk in the SCC graduation:

Some students will be completing their Nurse Aide Certificate this summer, but are allowed to walk at the SCC graduation in May.

The college-level class offerings vary by high school and students work with their high school guidance counselor to find out what is offered for dual-credit at the high school and Southeastern Community College. Students that are enrolled in dual enrollment classes are held to the same expectations as any college student, according to SCC.