Several weeks before he earned his high school diploma from Fresta Valley Christian School in Marshall, Matthew Lehr was awarded his associate degree in Engineering from 91影视.
Through the college鈥檚 dual-enrollment program and the support of his school鈥檚 administration, he was able to gain enough credits to graduate with two years of college already under his belt.
Lehr had a hybrid schedule 鈥� attending multiple classes at the Middletown Campus, one at the Fauquier Campus and many online. A couple of professors really stood out to him.
鈥淚 liked my Physics and Engineering professors the most,鈥� said Lehr. 鈥淢y favorite class probably would鈥檝e been my Physics one because of the labs with Professor Ray Rogers. In Engineering, Professor Serdar Durdyev didn鈥檛 just care about telling us what to do 鈥� he gave us examples and practical uses for all the topics.鈥�
He was a member of two societies 鈥� Epsilon Pi Tau for technology and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges 鈥� while at 91影视.
This fall, Lehr will be attending Purdue University.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good engineering school and one of the ones I really wanted to go to,鈥� he said. “I鈥檓 planning on studying mechanical engineering.鈥�
Lehr received an ROTC scholarship. After he finishes his commitment with the U.S. Army, he said he isn鈥檛 sure if he鈥檒l remain in the service for a while longer or work in the civilian engineering field.
Reflecting on his experience in dual enrollment, Lehr said he would definitely recommend other high school students take advantage of dual-enrollment opportunities.
鈥淎s well as preparing you for a future college environment, the classes are more advanced than you would have at the high school level alone,鈥� he said.