Dual Enrollment is All in the Family

By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer

When Darrell Grossen and his wife, Keri Jo, moved from Utah to Arizona in 2006, they faced a wave of changes: new jobs, a new home, and new schools for their children.

Their oldest son, Steven, who was 12, was originally enrolled in a public school in Chandler. But when the school wouldn’t allow him into its accelerated programs, a neighbor suggested Heritage Academy – a tuition-free charter school with smaller campuses and character-focused learning.

That decision not only shaped Steven’s education, it set the stage for a new chapter at Heritage Academy, one that would influence all of his siblings in the years ahead.

Blazing the Trail

“When he did the entrance exam for Heritage, Steven scored 100 percent on the math portion and pretty close to 100 percent on everything else,” Darrell said. “At the time, Heritage did not offer Advanced Placement (AP) or dual enrollment classes.”

Steven’s skills quickly outpaced what was available. After he completed calculus at Heritage, he began taking higher level math and science classes at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) and Rio Salado College.

“I was able to schedule my classes during the day on my open hour,” Steven said. “I would drive from my high school to CGCC to attend classes in-person. There had always been an option for students to take time to go to EVIT (East Valley Institute of Technology) for EMT (emergency medical technician) or cosmetics courses, but I think I was one of the first to use that time to go to college.”

Thanks to his academic drive, Steven also took and passed AP tests for English Language and Composition and Biology, despite not taking those classes.

“During my experience, my parents and I would meet with the leadership of Heritage Academy to coordinate my schedule,” Steven said. “We also talked about how, if there were dual enrollment classes offered, I wouldn't have to go off campus.”

Those conversations inspired Heritage Academy to partner with Rio Salado College to offer dual enrollment classes, giving future students the chance to earn college credit without leaving campus.

“I believe having a child passing the AP exams without taking the classes showed many people at Heritage that the students had the ability to thrive and succeed when given the opportunity,” Keri Jo said.

Steven graduated as Heritage’s valedictorian in 2012 and earned a full-tuition scholarship to Brigham Young University (BYU), where he majored in biochemistry. He then attended medical school at the University of Utah.

Today, he is in his second year of an internal medicine and pediatrics residency in Phoenix.

“The AP tests and college classes that I took helped give me a leg up on credits when I first started at BYU,” Steven said. “The classes and tests that I took ultimately helped me get ahead in life, and I continue to use the math and science that I learned from these courses in my profession today.”

Building on the Foundation

While Steven blazed a trail into dual enrollment, his sister, Mary Jo, embraced the opportunity in her own way. She took dual enrollment classes at Heritage, which covered most of the general education requirements for her bachelor’s degree.

Mary Jo also graduated from BYU, earning a degree in German and music. She currently lives in Utah and is enjoying being a stay-at-home mom to her 1-year-old daughter.

As Mary Jo focused on language and the arts, her younger brother, Andreas, pushed the boundaries of what dual enrollment could achieve.

“When I entered high school, I was not planning on earning an associate degree,” Andreas recalled. “It was only after I met with a Rio Salado coordinator that I realized it would be possible.”

To realize this goal, Andreas also had to pass three CLEP exams which are standardized tests that allow students to earn college credit by demonstrating knowledge of course material.

During his senior year in 2015, Andreas learned that he would be the first Arizona charter high school student to earn an associate degree.

“At first, I was surprised that it hadn't been accomplished,” Andreas said. “I was grateful for the guidance and help I received from my teachers and family. It's motivating to see how I was able to pave a path for other Heritage students to graduate with their associate degrees.”

Andreas graduated from Heritage as the class salutatorian. Today, he is a fourth-year medical student at Rocky Vista University in Utah.

“I am currently applying to neurology residency where I will continue my education and training as a resident neurology physician,” he said. “In four more years, I will be a neurologist and I plan to work at the hospital as a stroke specialist.”

As a result of the attention Andreas received, and Keri Jo’s promotional efforts, dual enrollment at Heritage began to gain traction.

“After the 2015 graduation ceremony, many parents contacted me wanting to know more about dual enrollment,” Keri Jo said. “I talked to parents at sporting events, schools plays or musicals, or anytime I was around the school. I would even pull up a picture of the plan outlining how they could likewise graduate and referring them to Rio Salado.”

Carrying the Tradition Forward

By the time Andreas made history with his associate degree, dual enrollment had become a tradition in the Grossen family. Younger brothers Jakob and Nikolas were next in line. They graduated from Heritage with associate degrees, in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Both were also within one to two classes of finishing with a second associate degree.

Jakob is now studying food science at BYU, where Nikolas is dual majoring in genetics genomics and Spanish.

The family’s journey reached its peak in May when the youngest child, Nathaniel, capped off the legacy by graduating with three associate degrees from Rio Salado. He is currently studying biology and chemistry at BYU, and hopes to become a veterinarian or doctor.

From Steven’s first AP tests to Nathaniel’s three associate degrees, the Grossen children show how dual enrollment can transform lives. Their journey not only shaped their futures but also inspired a pathway that continues to benefit countless students at Heritage Academy.