La Crosse Tribune: La Crescent senior completes college program while in high school

by Nathan Hansen, Jun 4, 2017

LA CRESCENT, Minn. — Sunday was twice as nice for Heather Shimshak.

The 18-year-old La Crescent senior was one of 95 students to walk the stage at commencement at the La Crescent Community Arena. But this wasn't Shimshak's only celebration: She graduated from Minnesota State College-Southeast in May from the school's phlebotomy certificate program.

"I wanted a challenge," Shimshak said about her desire to pursue the state's Postsecondary Enrollment Options program. "To do this was kind of amazing."

Minnesota's PSEO program allows high school students to enroll in college classes for free, saving them time and money. Shimshak said she had finished most of her high school courses her sophomore year and decided to start attending Southeast her junior year after teachers encouraged her to pursue the program.

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