Broken Bow’s Molly Staples earns associates degree before diploma

Broken Bow senior Molly Staples recently completed enough dual credit classes through Mid-Plains Community College to receive her associate degree before her high school diploma.

Staples began taking MPCC math classes via dual credit as a sophomore in high school.

“I’ve taken additional dual credit classes here and there ever since,” Staples said. “This year, Kaci Johnson [MPCC Broken Bow Campus administrator] visited my school and said if I could take a few more classes I could get an associate degree from Mid-Plains. It’s still really shocking to me that I was able to do that. I never thought it would be an opportunity for me.”

“The college classes weren’t necessarily harder, but they were different because I took most of them online,” Staples said. “The only courses I took in a classroom setting were the math classes, an anatomy class and a certified nursing assistant course over the summer at the MPCC Broken Bow Campus. Despite the online format, the instructors were very accessible and still provided one-on-one instruction. They got back to me quickly whenever I had a question.”

Staples will receive an Associate of Science degree from MPCC and will be two years ahead of her peers when she begins classes at Doane University, in Crete, this fall.

She plans to study actuarial science, which is the study of identifying and evaluating risk, specifically for insurance companies and pension plans.

“Kaci helped me get all my classes transferred,” Staples said. “The whole dual credit process was very smooth, and college will definitely be a lot more affordable because of it. I had to put more work into the college classes versus high school, but that will also be a benefit. It helped me focus and be accountable and gave me an idea what college is like so that I know what to expect. Dual credit prepared me for the next step.”

More information about MPCC’s dual credit offerings can be found online at: mpcc.edu.

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