SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Sylacauga High School senior Danielle Hanrahan has accomplished an extraordinary feat that is believed to be a first at Sylacauga High School. On May 23, Hanrahan will be presented an advanced high school diploma just days after receiving an associate degree diploma from Central Alabama Community College (CACC.)
The dual enrollment partnership with CACC allows SHS students to take some of their required high school courses, as well as additional courses, through the community college. The college instructor reports grades at the end of each semester to the high school counselor, who adds that data to the student’s high school transcript. The high school transcript does not serve as an official college transcript, but does award credit for both secondary and college courses to be counted toward high school graduation and GPA. All dual enrollment courses must be approved by the Alabama State Department of Education, with the principal granting approval for each student to participate. This process helps prepare students for the rigor and discipline needed for higher education.
Hanrahan began the dual enrollment process the summer before her junior year. In addition to taking all eight required courses of both her junior and senior years through dual enrollment, she took an additional 17 courses to earn an associate degree in Applied Science, with certification in office administration and a short term certification in general office administration with proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite.
For this energetic young lady, dual enrollment was the best of both worlds, allowing her also to be involved with SHS band and Show Choir.
Hanrahan remarked, “Show Choir is a two-semester commitment, and so is band for marching band in the fall and concert band in the spring. Music is a big part of my life. It was important to me to be able to take these classes, but they limited me in being able to get all of the regular course work done. Being able to take the required classes through CACC made it all possible.”
Along with her passion for music, Hanrahan also played on the Girls Varsity Basketball team for two years and Girls Tennis team for two years. This year she played #1 Doubles and #2 Singles. Additionally, she has a Gold ranking in ACT Work Keys, all A Honor Roll as a junior and A/B Honor Roll as a senior, has served as president of Mu Alpha Theta math honorary, been in the Aggie Band for four years playing tuba, held first chair tuba her senior year, performed four years in Sylacauga Signature Show Choir as an alto, and served two years in FBLA and one year in Key Club. So far in her college career, Hanrahan has earned 64 credit hours and made the Dean’s List last year.
Sylacauga High counselor Rachel Sherbert said, “Danielle is an extremely determined and driven young woman. Her work ethic far exceeds that of most young adults. I could not be more proud of her accomplishments. I know that she will exceed in life and make a difference in the world.”
Hanrahan will continue her college education in the fall at Murray State University in Kentucky and plans to earn a double major in secondary math education and music.
She is the daughter of Melany and Rob Hanrahan, and will be graduating from SHS alongside her brother, Dalton, and sister, Dana.
