(SPRINGFIELD, Ky.) – Washington County High School seniors Alivia Moore, Isabella Piasecki, Jacob Cochran and Taylor Fleming have each graduated from Elizabethtown Community & Technical College, earning associate degrees just days before they are set to receive their high school diplomas. The students were able to take college courses during their high school career and received their degrees at ECTC’s May graduation that occurred earlier this month.

“What motivated me the most was seeing other examples of those who had received an associate degree before me,” says Moore, who earned an Associate of Arts. “It was the beginning of junior year when I started dual credit courses and I had already finished most of my high school credits. So, I wanted to take advantage of these amazing opportunities given at an early age. At times it could be stressful but most of the time it was pretty smooth with some organization. In the end, it was all worth it, and I am so blessed to have done it.” At WCHS, Moore is a Gifted and Talented student, serves as sentinel for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, is a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Youth for Christ, and was a member of the Commanderette Basketball team for three years. Moore also completed an internship with Danny Hardin, CPA during tax season. After graduating from WCHS, she plans to attend Eastern Kentucky University and major in agribusiness. She is the daughter of Anthony and Michelle Moore.

Alivia Moore

Piasecki, who received an Associate of Science, says she didn’t follow a formal focus, but instead studied many courses related to physical science in addition to the basic courses. “The challenge of an associate degree motived me to pursue this during senior year,” she says. “These college courses required more time and attention in order to achieve success. While this was certainly difficult at times, I enjoyed the challenge that these courses provided me, as well as the opportunities they provided me to further succeed in my other high school courses. The workload was quite intense as I took many AP classes this year in addition to the college courses. Another factor in the intensity was ensuring that my work met college standards, not just high school standards.” At WCHS, Piasecki serves as president of the Environmental Club, and is a member of the Commander Tennis team, the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and the Beta Club. She attended the Governor’s Scholars Program the summer before her senior year. Piasecki is also currently employed at the Washington County Public Library. After graduating from WCHS, she plans to attend Transylvania University and explore many different subjects, with an overall plan to study physical science and incorporate writing and English. She is the daughter of Joseph and Laura Piasecki.

Isabella Piasecki

Cochran obtained an Associate of Arts, but says he initially didn’t set out to earn this degree. “I started taking dual credit courses that aligned to my career pathway and after discussing with Heather Reynolds [who serves as admissions advisor at ECTC] that I could transfer some of my other dual credit courses from other universities, I realized that I had the requirements to receive the degree,” he said. “Sometimes life happens and what we think is going to be our plan changes. So, I thought it would be a good thing to build my resume and go ahead and apply for the degree and know that this is the first step toward completing my bachelor’s degree. Taking dual credit courses was not always easy. I ended up taking dual credit courses from four different universities, and they all had different platforms and policies that I had to learn to use. While all courses were online, some formats were asynchronous, and some were synchronous. This required me to be in-person for several courses and meetings, so I had to work around my high school schedule, especially sports. There were many times I was on my class while riding the bus to away games, in the dugout, or in the locker room while the JV game was going on before I played the varsity game. I also had to go to class when there were NTI and snow days and when most were on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and Fall Break, I still had class because of the courseload and college schedule.” At WCHS, Cochran serves as vice president of FFA, is a member of Educators Rising, the Beta Club, the National Honor Society, the Commander Basketball team, the Commander Football team, the Commander Golf team, and serves as manager of the Commander Baseball team. He was also recognized through Senior Salute, serves as a Springfield-Washington County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, and is a volunteer at Lincoln Homestead Golf Course. Additionally, he works for Gloria Jean Farms growing and selling produce. After graduating from WCHS, he plans to attend Campbellsville University to study mathematics and obtain a secondary mathematics teaching degree and may also double major in business/accounting. He is the son of Lynn and Robin Cochran.

Jacob Cochran

Fleming, who received an Associate of Science, says she had already planned on attending Bluegrass Community & Technical College to become a registered nurse, and decided to take the opportunity to take required courses such as Anatomy I early through ECTC. “What motivated me was realizing the opportunity to take dual credit classes early allows me to earn my degree at a faster rate, which I can then use to start helping people as soon as I can,” she says. “I have had a passion for helping people for years and being able to achieve this dream at a faster rate was a dream come true!” Fleming says balancing being a high school student and a college student was a challenge. “I would often be up very late in the night to study for exams and having to miss events that my friends were attending to ensure my grade would be satisfactory,” she said. “However those sacrifices became worth it when my workload for nursing became significantly lighter. I am very grateful for the opportunities presented to me during high school.” At WCHS, Fleming is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club and serves as a Springfield-Washington County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. After graduating from WCHS, Fleming plans to attend the BCTC Leestown Campus to earn a registered nurse degree, then attend the University of Louisville to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and hopefully obtain certification as a registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). She is the daughter of Cody and Sabrina Fleming.

Taylor Fleming

“We are extremely proud of Alivia, Isabella, Jacob and Taylor for this remarkable accomplishment,” says Charlie Cox, principal at WCHS. “Balancing high school responsibilities with college-level coursework is no small feat, and these students have consistently demonstrated focus, perseverance and resilience. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!”

“We are incredibly proud of the outstanding achievements of our graduating seniors who are earning not only their high school diplomas, but also associate degrees,” says Washington County Schools Superintendent Dr. J. Robin Cochran. “This milestone reflects their dedication and strong work ethic, and it also highlights the impact of meaningful educational partnerships. We are truly grateful for the collaboration with ECTC and the shared commitment to expanding opportunities for students. By working together, we are opening doors for students and helping them take important steps toward a bright and successful future.”