Northwest Scholastic Institute Provides Unique Advantages for Early College Students

by Sarah Smith

Please Note: The wrong date was written for Oxford High School graduation.

Senatobia, MS (05/15/2025) — Northwest Mississippi Community College's Scholastic Institute students graduated from Northwest with an associate's degree on May 9 before they graduate high school on May 23.

The Scholastic Institute is a program that offers Oxford High School students the chance to earn their associate's degree while earning their high school diploma and graduate in both ceremonies.

The students who graduated in this 2025 year are Camaria Frierson of Oxford, Syna Gandhi of Oxford, Sam Greene of Oxford, Sam Heuer of Oxford, Zoey Jones of Oxford, Kaitlyn McConnell of Oxford, Annelise Osborne of Oxford, Asiel Rodriguez of Oxford, Noemi Urbina-Reyes of Oxford, Paul Webb of Oxford, Steven Wilkins of Oxford, and Kaylee Thompson of Oxford.

"The Scholastic Institute offers the unique opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree during the last two years of high school," said Dr. Suzanne Strehle, district director of early college programs. "Beginning their junior year, students enroll in dual credit courses at their high school and on a Northwest campus. The Scholastic Institute offers students the opportunity to earn up to 60 hours of transferrable college credit to universities."

For the students to qualify have to maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout high school and be recommended by their teachers, counselors, or school administrators. In addition to GPA scores, they must have the intelligence, maturity and grit to complete both high school and college at the same time.

"Students have had the opportunity to engage in in college organizations and activities while still being involved in their high school extracurricular interests," said Dr. Strehle.

This unique opportunity allows students with interest in higher education to go further faster.

If you'd like to learn more about Northwest, please visit northwestms.edu.

Media Attachments

ScholasticInstitute_SSmith-65.jpg

Northwest Scholastic Institute and Oxford High School graduates with Oxford High School faculty and Northwest Mississippi Community College faculty at the Scholastic Institute celebration April 29, 2025, at Oxford High School. Photo by Sarah Smith