WNC Jump Start program helps Sorensen see her future
Oasis student finds the first semester the most challenging
From left, WNC Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dana Ryan, WNC Interim President J. Kyle Dalpe and NSHE Regent Carol Del Carlo, far right, pose with Kailyn Sorensen, second from right.
Time management, flexibility and a sense of accomplishment are all reasons that Western Nevada College’s Jump Start program made it enjoyable for Oasis Academy’s Kailyn Sorensen. Even though the thought of taking college classes while in high school was initially intimidating, Sorensen has made this most of the higher education opportunity and has become one of 110 Jump Start students who recently graduated from WNC. “Kailyn is so motivated and driven,” said Oasis Academy Chief Academic Officer Rochelle Tisdale. “She takes advantage of every opportunity afforded by Oasis Academy. She has been on the lacrosse team, a member of We the People, Student Council and leadership, just to mention a few, all while taking on a full college load of classes and maintaining a perfect 4.0.” Sorensen graduated May 26 at WNC’s drive-through ceremony on the Fallon campus, only hours before she participated in her commencement ceremony as co-valedictorian for Oasis. WNC launched its Jump Start College in 2014 as a means to help more high school graduates earn a college education and make it more affordable for them as well. Jump Start students can earn up to 60 college credits and an associate degree while in high school.
Steve Ranson/LVN Regent Carol Del Carlo presents a diploma to Kailyn Sorensen during WNC Fallon’s graduation.
Sorensen said that her first semester of classes in Jump Start was the most challenging. “I had to learn how to study and to take effective notes so I could get good grades,” she said. “I was trying to do that on top of all my regular homework. I had so much more homework than I was used to and everything took so much more work and so much longer than I was used to. In that first year and, especially that first semester, I definitely pushed myself more than I ever had in school and it was very difficult.” As a college student, Sorensen said that her Jump Start courses provided her with a schedule that wasn’t so regimented and afforded her with personal satisfaction. “Because I was taking college classes, I was on a college schedule and didn’t have to be in school from 8-4. I liked that this gave me freedom to create my own schedule around what worked best for me,” she said. “I also liked that it was challenging, and once I had finished a class, I felt like I had learned and accomplished so much. That feeling of accomplishment at the end of each semester, looking back at everything I had learned and completed, was so rewarding.” That sense of accomplishment amounted to much more for Sorensen as she has completed her Associate of Science degree with Summa Cum Laude academic honors. Even though Sorensen has a two-year head-start on many college students, her career plans require her to take additional college training. She plans to become an optometrist and will attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and says she will need an additional six years of higher education. “I am so grateful that I have all my generals and early science classes finished, so when I get to college, I can take only the classes that I am interested in and that pertain to my degree,” Sorensen said. Now that Sorensen has accomplished two more levels of education, she has the confidence and knowledge of what it takes to become successful in her future college courses. Tisdale is assured that Sorensen will succeed at BYU and beyond. “We are so very proud of her and her accomplishments and wish her our very best as she moves on to BYU Provo to study biology to prepare for a career in optometry,” Tisdale said. “I am sure she will help us all see more clearly one day.” Local WNC grads and the corresponding degree or certificate of achievement are as follows: Fallon ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - COMPUTER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Heather Louise Cordell, Michael Alexander Montes Cox, Timothy Petersen ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - DEAF STUDIES Mayra Luz Ledesma ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - GRAPHIC DESIGN Joseph Charles Mikulak ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - NURSING Courtney Lynn Binand, Ivy Rebecca Kent, Dallas Caitlin Rogers ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - TECHNOLOGY - WELDING Brayden D. Blea, Logon MichaelThomas Ross, Joshua William Youles ASSOCIATE OF ARTS David Joseph Adams, Lexey Zakhi Akins, Jamie Alvarez, Hunter D. Arends, Kadie Anne Bake, Rachel Jenae Bake, Anna Rose Baker, Jelen Rose Bayoneta, Joshua Charles Bloomfield, Laura Ashley Bower, Gavin Lee Bracken, Shelby Chard, Angela Marie Cornejo, Rosalyn Shantel Cornejo, Danna Guadalupe Correa, Courtney Ida-Mildred Cross, Madison L. Davis, Tayler Audrey Felton, Evelin Gomez, Nallely Gomez, Grace Griswold, Lauren A. Halloran, Trevor Bradley Halloran, Samantha Hines, Chloe Jandreau, Isabella Marie Leal, Eric Leyse, Britney Jean McArthur, Jaylee Payton McEwen, Zachary Randall Mullins, Kiara Riley, Andreah Gabrielle Stacey, Josey Mae Suess, Maiya Elaine Swan, Katherine Annette Tejeda, Brooklynn Whitaker ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS Cheyenne Benson ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES Logan Earl Johnson, Alaina Roseland, Maycee LeAnn Wadsworth ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE Hunter D. Arends, Zoey Leeann Brown, Elvira Taihly Correa Chavarin, Kaitlyn Nicole Hert, Sam Seong-Young Lee, Connor Oceguera, Kylie Rachelle Pack, Hailey Penfold, Lainee Reid, Nelly Adilene Ruiz, Novaleah Americus Sampley, Kailyn Mae Sorensen, Madeline Grace Stephens CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE Mayra Luz Ledesma Fernley ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - CRIMINAL JUSTICE Shelene Bowling ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - DEAF STUDIES Brandi Kjose ASSOCIATE OF ARTS Ellie Bassett, Alexandra Isabel Brown, Donna J. Dastrup, Zachary David Dillon, Sarah Samantha Donley, Amber Dawn Duncan, Leahi Hale, Tyger James Hunter, Persephone Hanako-Lee Mulei, Khang T. Nguyen, Ashley Grace Ward, Kayla Nichole Ward ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES Shery Lynn Stafford ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE Cailynne Rayne Bixby, Broderick Garrett, Ethan Tomas Hensen, Allyssa Maria Mathern, Zoie Miranda BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE - ORGANIZATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT Kari Rae Weitzel CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE Brandi Kjose Silver Springs ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - TECHNOLOGY - AUTOMATED SYSTEMS James Garrison ASSOCIATE OF ARTS Ryu Thomas Crank ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE Aubrey Rose Damm, Logen Blake Ornelas, Perla Rosita Rodriguez
Steve Ranson/LVN