BAINBRIDGE – With the pressure on high school students to attend college after graduation, three students at Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District are showing that it’s possible to get a jump-start on a college career.

B-G seniors Morgan Shew, Darcy McElligott and Cadi Barber will be the first students form B-G – and in Chenango County – to graduate high school with an associates degree under their belts, thanks to a collaborative partnership between the district and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). The program allows B-G students to choose from more than 20 concurrent enrollment courses and several more online courses covering a wide variety of subjects from mathematics to art and design.

Concurrent enrollment courses are instructed by B-G teachers who have been approved as adjuncts by TC3 and have worked with the college to design their course. Tuition is offered at no cost to students as the school district bills the county for tuition expenses, and the college waives any additional fees. This collaboration gives students the chance to earn an associate’s degree over the course of their high school career. It’s a great way for students to explore future career options early on while saving a couple bucks, according to B-G Superintendent Donald Wheeler.