Adam Moezaw first heard about the Early College Program last year, when he was a sophomore at Frederick High School.

The new program at Frederick Community College allows high school students to earn their high school degree and an associate degree simultaneously by attending FCC full time during their junior and senior years.

Adam was immediately interested in the program, seeing it as a unique opportunity to save time and money on his way to a nursing degree.

“I know I want to work toward a career in nursing, and this program will help me complete prerequisites for nursing school by the time I finish high school,” Adam said. “Not only am I saving money on two years of college tuition, but by doing this while I’m still living at home, I’m also saving money on room, board, gas, and other expenses that add up when you’re in college. In the long run, this will help me so much economically.”

Adam is one of 23 students from nine different Frederick County high schools who started in the first cohort of the Early College program this fall. All students went through an application and interview process during their sophomore year last year to prove they were college ready.

One of the main missions of the Early College program is to encourage and seek out completion and participation of underrepresent groups in higher education. This includes:

• students of color
• English as a second language speakers
• first-generation college students
• students with disabilities
• students who qualify for free and reduced meals

Of the 23 students in the Early College program this fall, 12 identify with at least one of the underrepresented groups.

The Early College program was created collaboratively over the past two years between FCC and FCPS administrators and staff. The strong partnership between these two institutions is one of the main reasons why program interest was so high going into the first year.

“Early College at FCC is a unique opportunity for FCPS students that appeals to the exceptionally motivated and ambitious student who sees themself ready for a full-time college experience," said Andrew McClain, FCC Dual Enrollment specialist. “Our Early College program differs from other Early or Middle College programs in the state because we offer almost all majors at FCC to Early College participants. With such a diverse county, I believe this to be a very appealing element of the program.”

Like Adam, Gov. Thomas Johnson High School student Subhashree Susindran, who goes by Subha, was also interested in the program as soon as she heard about it.
“As soon as I attended the first meeting of the Early College program, I had a good feeling that this program was for me,” Subha said. “The idea that high school students can earn their associate degree from FCC while they are in high school is a very new and innovative program which really impressed and astonished me.”
Subha says there are many benefits to the program in addition to the economic ones.

“I think it's important for students to get this opportunity because it will allow them to learn the skills of time management and communication especially because the methods of learning in high school are much different than the methods of learning in college,” Subha said. “It gives students a chance to explore and experiment the life of college and especially the academic and social aspects of college. This program is also very structured in a manner that allows students to focus on building their careers."

Learning how to manage his time has been a great learning experience already for Adam as well, who also works part-time and plays football for Frederick High School.

Adam and Subha mentioned they originally had concerns about missing out on the high school experience when they were considering this program, but both have said the pros far outweighed the cons.

Subha says she is still able to participate in events happening at her home high school and keep up with her friends. The same has been true for Adam.

“I’d recommend this program to anyone,” Adam said. “You can still hang out with your high school friends outside of school, and for me, it’s more important to prioritize my education.”

For Adam, that means working toward his dream career in nursing, which he knows this program will help him reach.

“Nurses can really make a difference in someone’s life,” Adam said. “If you have a reassuring nurse that’s kind to you and your family during a hard situation, you will remember that nurse for a long time. That’s what I hope to be.”