By Zach Hester, Reporter

zach@southerntorch.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — As graduations across the nation happen around this time of year, outgoing high school seniors are looking forward to that moment when they get to move the tassel perched on their caps from one side to the other. For three DeKalb County seniors, they’ll get to toss more than one tassel this graduation season.

Christian Townson of Sylvania, Joshua Alexander Lance of Plainview and Audrey Biddle of Cornerstone walked across their respective graduation stages this week and thanks to the dual enrollment program provided by Northeast Alabama Community College, they will also be walking across the stage to receive their associate’s degrees at the same time.

Townson has been accepted into 21 colleges and universities from Alabama and Auburn all the way to Belmont, Vanderbilt, and LSU. He has accepted a Kenneth Carnathan Crimson Scholarship to attend the University of Alabama in the fall and been awarded one of just forty spots in the exclusive Randall Research Scholars Program - one of the nation’s top undergraduate research scholars programs.

“I am thankful to Dr. Jason Barnett… and Dr. David Campbell of NACC for working together to allow students an opportunity to excel through the Dual Enrollment program,” said Christian.

Cornerstone senior Audrey Biddle will also accept her NACC diploma this week.

“Near the end of my tenth grade year, I desperately desired to accomplish something impactful. I had no idea that this would lead to such a desire for furthering my education,” said Biddle. “This shy and insecure little girl stepped up out of her comfort zone and although I had no clue where to begin, I signed up for any and every dual enrollment class I possibly could.”

During her last semester at Cornerstone Christian Academy, Audrey took seven college classes while also traveling to many states as Alabama’s Senior Beta Vice President.

Biddle was offered several scholarships as a result of her achievements. After graduation this week, she plans to attend Athens State University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education/Special Education.

Joshua Lance also picked up two diplomas this week.

Lance’s activities at Plainview ranged from Beta Club to the basketball team. He will continue his collegiate career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a major in biomedical engineering before heading to medical school where he plans to become an anesthesiologist.

Josh is just six generations down from Dr. Alexander Bailey (his namesake), one of the first physicians in our area. Dr. Bailey died in 1918 during a flu epidemic treating patients.

The dual enrollment program allows high schools students to begin their college courses while still in high school. For more information, contact Staci Miller at (256) 638-4418, (256) 228-6001, ext. 2225, or by email at millers@nacc.edu.