62 Union Students Get Opportunity To Participate In Early College Program: 'I Feel Very Lucky'

62 Union eighth graders will be part of an Early College program, that allows them to graduate high school with an associate degree at the same time. 

Union Public Schools Faculty said 65 percent of these students will be first-generation college students and that the EDGE program will save them up to $50,000 in college tuition.

The EDGE program is a partnership between Union Public Schools and Tulsa Community College.

It helps students graduate with an associate degree and High school diploma, without paying a dime.

The program was created in 2018 and focuses on students who qualify for the Oklahoma's Promise Scholarship, and first-generation college students who come from low-income families.

Union Early College principal Lisa Witcher says this program, along with the kids are her babies.

She says she thinks this program gives families hope that a college education is attainable.

"This program is a great gift," Witcher said. "It's a great gift to the students in our community. To me personally, it is a great culmination of 30 years of education." 

Union 8th graders say they couldn't contain their emotion all week.

Students who qualify will enroll in college prep courses for 9th grade, and then take college courses taught by Tulsa Community College professors.

They say they know how hard it's going to be, but they tell me they're ready to put in the work. 

"It's a big thought to think about because some families don't get this opportunity," says EDGE student Devin Clagg. "I feel very lucky to go through this experience and hopefully be successful in life." 

"I'm really excited but I'm also extremely nervous," says EDGE student Madison Bratt. 

Witcher says the program took a while to start up, but she never felt like giving up.

"We dreamed it, and then we built it...and isn't that what Walt Disney says...if you can dream it, you can build it," Witcher said.