FRANKFORT, Ky. — A group of Frankfort high school seniors earned their associate's degrees from Kentucky State University before graduating high school.
Frankfort High School senior Jaleia Hatchett, 18, has a passion for sports marketing and design. She and her classmate Sam Gilbert interned with KSU's Sports Information department and are among six high school students who are now college graduates.
University leaders and supporters recognized the students as some of the youngest to cross the stage.
“There wasn’t a seat empty,” Gilbert said.
"It was full, it was loud and they had seating back there as well to accommodate more people streaming down the aisle," Hatchett added. "They had the stage up here, so that's where we would walk up and get our little certificate.”
They said the journey to the celebration was not without its challenges, often having to miss out on fun events such as games and prom to study.
Hatchett and Gilbert are creative and committed to working hard, said Christian Flowers, KSU director of sports information.
“It's a very, I guess, joyous feeling ... a little bit sad because you hate to see them go, but it's also a reminder that they're going to be great in their next steps in life, wherever it may take them," Flowers said.
Hatchett said she hopes to inspire other students through her work.
"It was just like, 'This is kind of a big, big thing,'" she said.