Allyson Eppert, center, became the first Wawasee High School student to qualify for Indiana College Core. She is shown with Rebecca Puckett, left, guidance counselor at WHS, and Geoff Walmer, the high school principal. Photo by Tim Ashley.

By Tim Ashley
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Allyson Eppert will begin her first year of college in August this year — as a sophomore. Allyson, a senior at Wawasee High School, became the first Wawasee student to qualify for Indiana College Core.

Indiana College Core, also known as Start as a Sophomore, allows students to start their college education at any Indiana public four-year institution as a sophomore.

Geoff Walmer, WHS principal, said the state (through a partnership with Ivy Tech and Vincennes University) provides a list of college credit classes high school students can take to qualify for Indiana College Core. Students must earn 30 college credits — at least 15 credits from Ivy Tech — “and those credits will automatically transfer to any college in the state to cover their freshman year.”

A minimum of three credit hours must be earned in specific subject areas such as science, speech and others.

Walmer noted some students will have enough college credits to be a sophomore but their credits won’t automatically transfer because they don’t meet the requirements of Indiana College Core. “WHS offers many opportunities for students to receive college credit while in high school,” he added.

Students and their families can save time and money through Indiana College Core. Allyson said it cost her about $1,500 to earn the 30 credits, which is a significant savings compared to at least $15,000 it would cost otherwise and up to as much as $30,000 for one year depending on which college is attended.

She is also receiving a scholarship from Ivy Tech and they will pay for her textbooks.

Allyson has been accepted at several colleges, but has yet to decide which one she will attend. She indicated she wants to study criminal psychology.

For more information about Indiana College Core, go online to www.ivytech.edu/gen-ed-transfer-core/index.html.