For most high school students, a bachelor’s degree comes after graduation. Because of WSU Tech, Elijah Shurtz found a way to work toward both at the same time. 

This May, Elijah Shurtz will graduate from high school and earn his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Learning (OLL) at the same time. The Wichita homeschool senior has balanced his college education with his work as a maintenance technician at Glenville Church.

His path is possible because the education and experience he is gaining now can count toward his bachelor’s degree. 

WSU Tech’s Organizational Leadership and Learning (OLL) pathway is designed to help students turn their technical education and work experience into a bachelor’s degree. 

For Elijah, that meant his CNC (Machining) technical certificate transferred toward his degree, his general education courses counted toward both high school and college through dual credit, and his work experience translated into academic credit.

The result: Elijah didn’t have to wait until after high school to earn his bachelor’s degree. We sat down with Elijah and asked him how WSU Tech made this possible. 

What did you study at WSU Tech?

I got my CNC (Machining) Technical Certification and all my general education classes at WSU Tech.

What do you do now?

I am a maintenance technician & apprentice at Glenville Church, and I am also still a High School Senior.

What made you decide to go for the Organizational Leadership & Learning pathway at WSU Tech?

It was a good opportunity to utilize my technical credits & personal experiences and earn my gen-eds for my Bachelor’s degree while still getting dual credit for High School.

How does it feel to be graduating with an OLL Bachelor’s degree while you’re still in high school?

Blessed. Glad to be maximizing my time. I’ve accomplished above & beyond what I expected & what others expected of me.

I’ll be coming out of high school with something that typically takes people 4 more years. I feel like I’m doing something special and unique. I feel really accomplished to be able to say that I didn’t waste my time with high school.

How has this changed the way you see your future?

Having my bachelor’s degree will open future doors to getting better, higher-level jobs and being promotable in whatever job I end up getting. Leadership skills are applicable anywhere you are.

What would you tell another high school student who thinks a bachelor’s degree has to wait until after graduation?

Start working towards it now while you’re still getting the discounted High School tuition rate; you can take your gen-eds in 8-week sections and knock out so many classes.

Take as many dual credit classes as you can. Don’t take random classes; take classes that count toward your future degree. Be intentional in your schedule building.

With WSU Tech’s Organizational Leadership and Learning pathway, there is more than one path to a bachelor’s – and it does not always have to begin after high school.

By connecting his technical education, college coursework, and work experience, Elijah is building his future without starting over at each new stage.

That is the opportunity behind WSU Tech’s Organizational Leadership and Learning pathway. Technical credits earned at WSU Tech can transfer toward a bachelor’s degree, and eligible work experience may be evaluated for academic credit, helping students build on what they have already accomplished.

For high school students like Elijah, the path to a bachelor’s degree may be closer than they think.

Explore the OLL pathway and discover where your education and experience could take you.