Associate’s degrees come early

Friday, May 14, 2004 | 10:49 a.m.

Most people finish high school before they go to college, but two local students managed to finish their associate's degrees first.

Lloyd Ancman, 17, and Francisca Vega, 18, will graduate with honors from the Community College of Southern Nevada today -- a full four weeks before their high school commencement ceremonies.

Both earned more than 60 college credits through the Community College High School program. The 8-year-old program allows high school juniors or seniors to take their core high school classes from Clark County School District teachers and then take college classes as electives. The students receive credit for both diplomas at the same time.

Most students, however, only take about 24 to 30 college-level classes in their two years, so to earn an associate's degree is extremely rare, Principal Karen Phillips said.

"We have two out of 300 (high school graduates), so when you just look at that number itself, it's just amazing," Phillips said.

The associate's degrees allow Ancman and Vega to transfer into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as juniors -- with the possibility of finishing their bachelor's degree within two years.

For Ancman, that means he'll be able to enter dental school at the young age of 19, and be a working dentist by the time many of his colleagues are just beginning their dental studies.

"This is really good for me. I love it," said Ancman, who will be receiving an associate's degree in applied science. "It's such a head start in life."

Vega agreed, adding that she was bored in high school and likely would have dropped out if it had not been for the community college program.

"In my mind, taking the community college classes was doing something more productive than regular high school," said Vega, who will be receiving an associate's degree in general studies. "Honestly, after sophomore year in high school you aren't doing much, you take English and government and the rest are electives."

Vega said she intends to earn a degree in biochemistry from UNLV and eventually work in pyrotechnics.

"I'm really into explosives, imploding buildings," Vega said. "My ultimate goal would be to get a job with a company, a construction company, where they pay me to blow (stuff) up."

Both Ancman and Vega had to attend summer school and take on additional classes to earn the associate's degree in two years.

"It's quite a goal they set for themselves," Phillips said.

The few students who do complete an associate's degree in the high school program are typically very determined students who know they want to go into careers, such as medicine or law, that involve additional education beyond a four-year bachelor's degree, Phillips said.

"They have two years of college out of the way," Phillips said. "... They're just looking at the future which is so awesome that at this young age they know what they want to do."

Students must apply and be accepted to the community college program, but there is no minimum GPA, Phillips said. About 600 students are enrolled in the program at CCSN's three different campuses.

The Clark County School District pays for up to 12 units per semester for the high school students, and students are responsible for paying for their books and any additional classes.

On top of all of the classes, additional volunteer work and the teen-age pull of wanting to play video games with his friends, Ancman maintained an almost perfect 3.95 GPA. His only B was in pre-calculus.

"He's a very determined young man, I'm very proud of him," Eileen Ancman, Lloyd's mom, said. "He wants to go to dental school at UNLV."

Lloyd Ancman said he became interested in dentistry after his oral surgeon started talking to him about his goals while pulling the teen's wisdom teeth.

"I said I liked science and he suggested I try dentistry," Ancman said.

"I want to make people's teeth all good and have awesome smiles and everything, and dentists have a really good lifestyle," Ancman continued.

He's currently shadowing dentists as a volunteer with the American Red Cross at Nellis Air Force Base -- another pre-requisite to dental school that Ancman is knocking out early.

Vega also maintained a high 3.5 GPA in addition to classes and volunteer work. Vega tutors older students in math at the community college level and was involved in the Metro Police department's Explorer program, which introduces teenagers to law enforcement.

Vega also said she has applied to be a Metro cadet as a way to "give to my country." She is waiting to see if she has been admitted.

Ancman and Vega are two of a record-breaking class of 1,700 CCSN students slated to graduate on Friday. Ancman is the youngest in a class that ranges from 17 to 70.

Nearly half of the graduating class are graduating with honors (3.4 GPA) and high honors (3.6 GPA or higher). More than 600 students will be receiving degrees in applied science, 365 in arts, 164 in business, 307 in general studies and 82 in science. Another 222 students will receive certificate of achievement for completing technical training at the college.

Of those graduating Friday, 92 will be receiving multiple degrees, including 10 receiving three degrees and one receiving four.

CCSN's commencement ceremony is Friday at 6 p.m. at the Thomas and Mack Center.