MARIETTA, OHIO — Summer Colvin is a determined 17-year-old senior from Belpre High School and a College Credit Plus (CCP) student at Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) who is utilizing CCP courses to help her get ahead on her college journey. With aspirations to join the health field, Colvin is setting herself up for success by working toward an Associate of Science degree at WSCO.
Colvin’s CCP journey at WSCO started in her Sophomore year of high school. She chose to enroll in WSCO’s CCP program, not only because she wanted to get a head start on her college education but to also start gaining the confidence she needs to be able to eventually attend college full-time. “I wanted to start taking college classes as early as possible so I would have less to take once I attend college full-time and to also get used to the college atmosphere,” says Colvin.
She shares that the most challenging part of being a CCP student at WSCO is finding a good balance between being a high school and college student. Colvin is very involved in extracurricular activities at Belpre High School, serving as the Mock Trial Captain, the Student Council President, and the Random Acts of Kindness Co-Chair. Colvin is also a member of Phi-Theta Kappa (PTK) at WSCO. All these activities as well as the course work from all her classes can be a lot for her to juggle. “Being involved in so many extracurricular activities while being a high school and CCP student can be very time-consuming, but it’s worth it to be able to stay involved,” says Colvin.
Carrie Ramage, Educational Talent Search Advisor at WSCO works closely with Colvin and thinks highly of all the things that she is involved in, especially how Colvin is setting an example by taking the initiative to help others. “As a member of the student council, she led a schoolwide drive to collect materials for individuals in a shelter, highlighting her passion for making a positive impact on others,” says Ramage.
Colvin shares that two of the most rewarding aspects of being a CCP student are earning college credits for free and gaining a better understanding of college-level courses which helped her ease her anxieties about college. This realization came through her experience in a previous CCP class at WSCO. “I was worried at first about taking college-level courses, especially anatomy, but I found that I really didn’t struggle,” Colvin explains. “Now that I’ve completed harder courses like anatomy, I feel more confident and prepared for the healthcare courses I will be taking in the future,” she adds.
On top of all that she is already juggling, she also works at Belpre’s UPS Store where she is a Certified Packing Expert, packing and shipping items and printing out passports. Ramage believes that the fact Colvin is also working while being a busy CCP student is very admirable and highlights her work ethic. “While balancing a full schedule of college classes and high school responsibilities, Summer also helps her mom run the Belpre UPS store, showcasing her dedication and work ethic,” says Ramage. Ramage continues to speak on how impressed she is with how Colvin can handle it all. “Her dedication to her studies and her ability to balance multiple responsibilities reflect her drive for success and her commitment to completing her education at WSCO and beyond,” says Ramage.
Colvin will achieve a lot this year as she is graduating from Belpre High School as a part of the class of 2025 and will also graduate in the Spring 2025 semester with her Associate of Science degree at WSCO, a degree she chose as she knew it would fit perfectly into her goal to enter the health field one day. “As a first-generation college student, Summer is determined to overcome challenges and pursue her goals in the health field,” says Ramage.
Colvin’s plans after graduating from WSCO are to attend the University of Kentucky to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and eventually enroll in a Physician Assistant program.
