Dual Credit Alumni Share Advice with Broken Arrow High School Students

Students from Broken Arrow High School’s Early College Academy, a partnership with Tulsa Community College, connected with program alumni for advice on college success during a panel hosted at Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow. From networking tips to financial aid strategies, the discussion showcased the lasting impact of earning an associate degree alongside a high school diploma.

Students at Broken Arrow High School’s Early College Academy, a partnership with Tulsa Community College, heard from alumni who finished the early college program and are now university students. The second annual panel discussion was held informally over pizza and allowed current BAHS students in the Early College Academy to hear valuable advice about college success from alumni who’ve recently transferred to four-year universities, like Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University, and the University of Tulsa.

The Early College Academy partners with TCC Dual Credit and offers Dual Credit to College Degree, a program that allows eligible Broken Arrow High School students to earn a college degree alongside their high school diploma. The TCC program offers classes taught by TCC faculty and are available online, online live, and in-person at TCC campuses, high schools, and other off-campus sites. Upon graduation, students are on their way to a bachelor’s degree two years ahead of their peers.

“The TCC Dual Credit to College Degree program at Broken Arrow’s Early College Academy has grown from nine students earning associate degrees in 2020 to over 40 in 2025,” says TCC Director of Dual Credit Programs Melissa Steadley. “The goal of the program is to decrease students’ time to college completion, while reducing cost and teaching students how to navigate higher education. The peer panels bring relevant information about the university transfer experience from a student perspective.”

The alumni discussed the advantages of completing an associate degree including the seamless transfer of credits and the ability to start major-specific classes right away. Many shared ways to integrate into campus life, the benefits of work-study employment, and how to navigate transferring to a university as academic juniors at a young age.

Among the alumni panelists was Cayden Flud, who transferred to NSU after earning her high school diploma and associate degree at the same time. Flud serves as the Communications Chair for the Ambassadors at NSU and the Vice President of the Communications Club. She emphasized the importance of networking and forming connections with professors and peers, which was made easier through the Early College Academy.

“I’ve made a lot of connections with other students and professors because I’ve put myself out there and have been an ambassador for NSU,” says Flud. “I met my roommate in the Early College Academy. So, I knew people starting at NSU with me, including a few other people from the program.”

For BAHS seniors like Jada Dunbar and Dylan Jones, both University of Tulsa-bound biology majors, the panel provided much-needed advice into navigating the challenges of college life.

“Hearing first-hand accounts from people who have been through the same program was really helpful,” says Dunbar. “I learned tips for work study and financial aid, and about the importance of connecting with your professors because you can gain mentorship from them.”

“There's a lot of anxiety about going to college and the transition process but hearing from someone who’s been in your shoes really helps,” says Jones. “The Early College Academy has helped me build a community, and now some of us will go to the same college together, and that will help with the transition, too.”

TCC has six Dual Credit programs to help high school students get a head start on their college education, with courses and support available both in-person and virtual. Summer and Fall 2025 admission are open now. Enrollment begins for all students on April 7.