Hunter Comer, Dakston Drennan and Zane Harrison initially enrolled in classes at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s Western Arkansas Technical Center to earn concurrent credit through courses that piqued their interest.
Instead, they have college degrees to show for it.
The three high school students have completed coursework to earn associate degrees at UAFS – Comer and Drennan in automotive technology, Harrison in computer graphics technology.
Read their stories below:
The Western Arkansas Technical Center is an area technical center at UAFS that offers concurrent credit classes to high school students. For more information on WATC and the programs it offers, call 479-788-7720 or email watc@uafs.edu.
Hunter Comer
After earning all his class credits required to graduate from Mountainburg High School by his junior year, Hunter Comer decided to enroll in the Western Arkansas Technical Center at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith to smooth his transition to college.
But after taking courses and enrolling in additional classes, he didn’t just smooth the transition – he shaved two years off his post-secondary education. Comer has completed coursework for an associate degree in automotive technology from UAFS through concurrent credit courses at WATC.
Dakston Drennan
Growing up, Dakston Drennan of Greenwood bonded with his grandfather through cars. He watched his grandfather work on them and traveled to car shows with him, where Drennan would learn about the inner workings of vehicles.
Now, after two years in the Western Arkansas Technical Center’s automotive technology program, he’s able to work on cars alongside his grandfather.
Zane Harrison
Zane Harrison of Van Buren always loved reading stories. And although he loved to create stories himself, putting words to a page always felt awkward.
Instead, he found solace in creating stories in a different way: computer animation, a passion Harrison discovered and fostered through the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s Western Arkansas Technical Center. Harrison has completed coursework for an associate degree in computer graphics technology from UAFS through courses he took in the center.