KNOXVILLE – Students typically earn their high school diploma and college degree in that sequence and a few years apart, but one local student chose a different path.
Left to right are Jill Oberfeitinger, Mary Anne Cooper and Dr. Scott Hummel after Tusculum University’s graduation.
Mary Anne Cooper graduated from Tusculum University Saturday, May 10, with an Associate of Arts in general studies. Then she walked the stage at Gibbs High School in Knoxville Friday, May 16, to receive her diploma from that institution. She was also the valedictorian at her high school graduation.
She accomplished this feat as a dual enrollment student, taking online classes that qualified for credit at Gibbs and Tusculum at the same time. She impressed at Tusculum, collecting the associate degree summa cum laude. With a bunch of college credits already behind her, Cooper is on a path to have a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2 ½ years.
Cooper said it was neat to have her first college degree in hand before she graduated from high school.
“I didn’t tell too many people that I was getting my associate degree because I didn’t want them to try to talk me out of it,” she said. “When I have a goal, I want to have people who are going to encourage me. So a lot of people found out for the first time when Miss Jill came to the high school May 9 and gave me the cords for my college graduation. It’s quite an honor to have that distinction.”
Jill Oberfeitinger places graduation cords on Mary Anne Cooper.
Miss Jill is Jill Oberfeitinger, Tusculum’s director of academic advising, who met with Cooper, her parents and her high school counselor to develop a personalized graduation plan that would fulfill her high school requirements, enable her to attain her associate degree and align with her other academic goals. The group met every semester to make any necessary adjustments to ensure Cooper stayed on track for her degree and high school diploma.
“During our first meeting, I recognized that Mary Anne was someone exceptional,” Oberfeitinger said. “She is inquisitive and proactive and consistently follows through on her commitments. Additionally, she is one of the sweetest individuals I have had the pleasure of meeting.”
Cooper was inspired to obtain her associate degree when she was a high school freshman and came to know senior Lydia Adkins, who was graduating from Tusculum with her associate degree. They were in the DECA marketing club together. When Cooper learned about Adkins’ pursuit of an associate, Cooper thought that was awesome.
The two students spoke about Tusculum’s dual enrollment program and the partnership the university had with Knox County Schools, specifically with Gibbs. Adkins shared that she had a wonderful experience with Tusculum and encouraged Cooper to go the same route. Then, Adkins put Cooper in touch with Oberfeitinger to discuss the process. The situation progressed, and Cooper began taking dual enrollment classes the summer after her sophomore year.
Mary Anne Cooper wears her graduation attire for commencement at Gibbs High School.
Adkins was the first student at Gibbs to earn her associate degree before graduating high school, making Cooper the second to achieve that feat. Cooper said it is cool to have that special status as part of her life story.
“I’ve always been a high-achieving student,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to go above and beyond in the classroom and outside the classroom as well. If our summer reading goal was five books, I would read 10 books. I saw that Lydia had those characteristics, and I felt if she could accomplish that goal, then I could do it, too. I wanted to be successful in high school, and I knew that the dual enrollment program would set me on a path of success, not only in high school but also in my college education. It was also something to put on my résumé for future job opportunities.”
Cooper said the dual enrollment work was hard but has paid off in more than one way. It helped her attain a 4.89 grade point average at Gibbs – the maximum is a 5.0 – and enabled her to become valedictorian. She has received two major scholarships, and she attributes them in large measure to the fact that she is an ambitious student who has received her associate degree.
As she went through the dual enrollment program, Cooper was younger than most of the students in the class, so she had to battle her belief the others might be more successful than her because they are older or might have more skill in the subject matter. She overcame those feelings through positive affirmation of herself and recognized that her age would not automatically mean she could not be as successful as the other students.
“Leaning on my relationship with the Lord was the biggest part of me being able to accomplish this,” Cooper said. “There were several times I got discouraged and overwhelmed. Learning how to balance my responsibilities was so important to me. I have a praying family, and they have prayed me through. I’ve also had a lot of mentors and supporters that have texted and called me randomly to say they are praying for me or want to send me an encouraging verse or song.”
Mary Anne Cooper shakes hands with Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, during the university’s graduation ceremony.
Cooper said she had incredible professors at Tusculum, citing, in particular, Oberfeitinger; Kelsey Trom, professor of English; and Dr. Adam Denton, assistant professor of psychology. She said the professors were helpful with any questions or concerns she had. She was thrilled when she said Trom told her that her writing might be published because she had put a lot of time and energy into it. Cooper calls Oberfeitinger wonderful.
In addition to advising Cooper, Oberfeitinger taught her in her Tusculum Experience orientation class.
“Despite being younger than many of her classmates, her submissions were just as insightful, if not more so, than those of her older peers,” Oberfeitinger said. “Conversations with other professors who had the privilege of teaching her consistently yield the same feedback: ‘She is so engaged’; ‘She is wonderful, the ideal student’; and ‘One word – awesome!’”
Once Cooper completes her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, she plans to seek a job as a nurse in pediatrics or labor and delivery for the early part of her career. Long term, she wants to obtain her master’s degree in nursing and become a family nurse practitioner. Oberfeitinger is confident about Cooper’s future.
“I have no doubt she will excel wherever her life leads her,” Oberfeitinger said. “With her strengths in engagement, curiosity, politeness and insightfulness, she is sure to be successful both as a student and a nurse.”
To learn more about the university’s dual enrollment program, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/apply-visit/apply/dual-enrollment/. Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.