Many seniors within the Dallas County School System will be graduating with two degrees this May, thanks to a program at Wallace Community College Selma.

Through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars Program, many students will be earning both high school diplomas and associate’s degrees.

The program, which is offered through a partnership with Tuskegee University, is everything right with our schools. The program makes college more accessible to our students and gives local children a way to earn college credits while still in high school.

College can be a scary step for high school seniors and at times may seem like a distant option. The Howard Hughes Program is making that dream much more realistic for many Dallas County students and may even help entice them to continue through school. After all, it’s easier to the light at the end of the tunnel when two years of college are already out of the way.

We want to congratulate the students who have worked hard and will earn two degrees later this month. We hope their success encourages others to join the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars Program.