HARRISON, Ark. (Edited Information Launch/KY3) – Bergman senior Charles Noah Cuevas-Klepper (Noah) made historical past lately by changing into the primary pupil within the 48-year historical past of North Arkansas Faculty (Northark) to earn an Affiliate of Arts diploma a full semester earlier than he graduates from highschool subsequent spring.

Directors from Bergman and Northark held a particular graduation ceremony for Noah attended by Bergman academics and college students, representatives from Northark and Noah’s household.

“Noah has spent numerous hours exterior of Bergman college to perform this,” mentioned Amy Curtis, Bergman principal. “We applaud his extraordinary effort to perform this, and we congratulate him on this prestigious achievement. Noah, we stay up for your brilliant future and the impression you should have on our world.”

“You might be an inspiration. I’m in awe of your accomplishment,” Northark’s President Rick Massengale instructed Noah throughout his remarks. “I salute you.”

Noah enrolled in Northark’s concurrent credit score lessons throughout his sophomore 12 months. Concurrent credit score lessons enable college students to earn school and highschool credit score on the identical time at little or no price to the coed. A brand new Northark kickstart program acknowledges college students as they progress additional towards their levels.

Faculty President Rick Massengale famous the numerous financial savings college students understand by enrolling in concurrent lessons. “If you happen to wait till after commencement to attend a university to the west that has a pig mascot, this diploma will price you $19K. If you happen to go to the south, the place I got here from in Russellville, this diploma will price you $26K. Noah’s mother and father and Bergman paid $2,100 for this diploma. That could be a financial savings of $17K. Noah, that’s sufficient to get you a brand new automobile!”

Noah’s mom, a Northark RN graduate, instructed him about concurrent lessons. “What first prompted me to take concurrent credit score was at first simply to hunt a better type of studying,” Noah mentioned. “Then I discovered that I may get an affiliate diploma once I graduate highschool, saving a variety of time for me sooner or later. I loved the affordability, the straightforward entry, and the expertise. I cherished studying about many alternative topics.”

An completed pupil, Noah juggles many actions balancing them along with his research. He attended Arkansas Boy’s State, Arkansas Governor’s Faculty, and obtained the Arkansas state seal of Biliteracy for Spanish. He’s a member of the Nationwide Honor Society, the Nationwide Society for Excessive Faculty Students, and Phi Theta Kappa. Music is his ardour. “I write/compose, transcribe, and transpose music when wanted. I make beats occasionally,” Noah says. “When I’m not working, learning, or messing with music not directly, I’m in all probability sleeping.” He additionally performs baseball and esports and performs the Saxophone within the Bergman Excessive Faculty band. Noah lately began a student-led Jazz Band for Bergman.

His journey was not at all times a straightforward one. Noah hit a roadblock on the pathway to his diploma. “There have been many challenges I confronted. One main problem occurred throughout my junior 12 months. I felt a pointy ache in my stomach, and I used to be admitted to the hospital. The one approach to cease the ache and discover out what was improper was to carry out a splenectomy. That is the entire elimination of the spleen.” It took Noah months to get well, and he missed numerous days of highschool. He mentioned, “On the time, I had eight NAC lessons, 4 AP lessons, and 7 highschool lessons.” Noah attended highschool from 7:45 a.m. to three:15 p.m. Northark lessons started at 4:00 pm. Noah usually studied till 3 am within the morning.

Time was a sacrifice he was prepared to make. “I overcame my shortcomings with time and assist from the school at Bergman and NAC. My household and mates additionally performed a particularly nice function in my restoration. I’m effective now although I’ve a half-foot scar to make up for it.”

Throughout his speech, Noah thanked everybody that supported him alongside the way in which, together with his household. “What now? What’s there extra for me to do?” Noah mentioned. “My path at Bergman and Northark has launched me to my future. I spotted and discovered a lot. I’m indebted to each establishments.”

Noah plans to proceed his training by pursuing a profession within the STEM area.

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