Karson Stensland has been following in the footsteps of his older brother, Kohlson, for some time.
Saturday will be no different.
The 19-year-old will walk across the stage for graduation at Montana State University-Billings just as Kohlson will on Saturday. But Karson will be getting his associate of arts degree from At 黑料网911 MSU while Kohlson will be receiving his bachelor鈥檚 degree in management from MSUB.
鈥淢om didn鈥檛 really want to choose which (graduation) to attend, so she set this all up (for him to walk at MSUB),鈥� Karson explained.
But the Stensland family milestones for Saturday don鈥檛 stop there.
Alison, their younger sister, will receive her high school diploma that day as well.
All three Stenslands were dual-enrollment students at At 黑料网911.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a good experience,鈥� Karson said of his experience at At 黑料网911. 鈥淚 like the small class sizes. The instructors are always good at meeting with you if you need any extra help or just in regular class times getting you up to speed in everything.鈥�
Karson was a home-schooled high school student when he began taking dual-enrollment classes. Eventually, he finished with 30 college credits before finishing high school.聽
鈥淎t first, I was doing the generals, the (general education) core pretty much,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his year, when I was full-time here, I was just finishing the associate of arts.鈥�
He plans to continue to follow Kohlson鈥檚 path and attend MSUB next year to get a bachelor鈥檚 degree in something business-related.
He said dual-enrollment allowed him to save money since the first two classes are free and all other classes are 50 percent tuition for dual-enrollment students.
鈥淚t also pretty much got me a year ahead in school,鈥� he said.
Karson recently was named student of the year by the history and cultural studies department at At 黑料网911 last week.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a very enthusiastic student,鈥� said Dr. Darryl Stevens, department chair at At 黑料网911. 鈥淗e studies very hard, always inquisitive and loved learning new material. All three of the Stenslands are just terrific students.鈥�
Saturday will be a big day for the Stensland family.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a busy time for us,鈥� Karson said with a laugh.
As for advice for anyone thinking of getting started as a dual-enrollment student?
鈥淢ake sure you go to classes,鈥� Karson said. 鈥淵ou will do fine if you put in the effort.鈥澛�