For many students, high school graduation marks the beginning of their college journey. For Shayna Nguyen, Jayla Sepulveda Silvain and Alexandra Lopez, it comes with something already in hand: college degrees from Rio Salado College.
The three students are just a few of the more than 400 dual enrollment students on track to earn degrees this year. This is a milestone that reflects the determination and academic ambition of high school students who chose to get a head start on their college careers early.
Through Rio Salado’s dual enrollment, students can earn college credit while completing high school courses, helping them save time and reduce college costs in the future. That opportunity also opened doors to competitive universities, competitive medical and dental career paths, and a deeper understanding of what they are capable of achieving.
Rio Salado will hold its 2026 Commencement at 7 p.m. May 14, 2026, at Arizona Financial Theatre.
Shayna Nguyen: Turning the Impossible Into Possible
For Shayna Nguyen, earning three associate degrees while completing high school represents a small piece of a big future goal.
By the time she graduated from Desert Vista High School this month, Nguyen was on track to complete an Associate in General Studies, an Associate in Science and an Associate in Arts, all from Rio Salado.
Nguyen sought out college credits to help keep her overall educational costs down as she plans to pursue a career as an oral surgeon.
“I decided to do both (high school and college credit) so I could finish my schooling at an affordable and quicker rate to be successful in the future to pursue a career in the medical field, especially with all the costs and time it takes to be an oral surgeon,” Nguyen said. “I was able to save money while balancing my personal life without much stress from this.”
Nguyen made the most of every dual opportunity at her school, then went further by taking additional online classes through Rio Salado. By earning more than 80 college credits, she is able to make her dream of attending university out of state more achievable financially. She will attend University of California, Irvine, in the fall with a major in biological sciences.
While Nguyen admits there were struggles to stay on top of her course load, she said strong connections with instructors helped along the way.
“During my time enrolled in Rio Salado classes, I was able to balance leadership skills and community service,” she said. “I was still able to live my life to the fullest outside of school while maintaining a good social life and mental health.”
Her advice for other dual enrollment students?
“Never doubt your ability to balance your school life with your personal life,” she said. “It can be hard but with enough perseverance nothing is stopping you from accomplishing everything you have ever dreamed of.”
Jayla Sepulveda Silvain: Persistence Leads to Personal Achievement
Jayla Sepulveda Silvain encountered a road not often travelled by students trying to complete a high school diploma and two associate degrees simultaneously. While juggling her studies at Xavier College Preparatory and taking dual enrollment classes with Rio Salado, she also had to focus on her personal health, undergoing several surgeries.
“Even though I missed a lot of school from time to time, I still managed to catch up on a lot of assignments that I missed and ended my quarter or semester grades with mostly As, some Bs, and one C,” Sepulveda Silvain said. “I hate that C. For a long time that felt like I failed but it was a reminder that I was strong and resilient.”
She attributes her success to both preparation - learning to manage her time and studies even before high school - and her teachers, coaches and family.
“My teachers made it possible for me to recover without stressing over school work and allowed me time to make up the assignments at a decent rate,” she said. “My parents and siblings are my motivation and the reason to keep loving everything that I do.”
That drive is leading her to a future in the medical field, either as a veterinarian or a nurse practitioner. Her 66 credits, earned both through dual enrollment and the high school Achieving a College Education (ACE) program at Rio Salado, will help her progress through her degrees at a faster pace in the future. She will attend Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University in the fall.
“I see myself in the future with my dream career, giving back to different communities, and caring for people in and out of my line of work,” she said.
Her perspective on the challenge of the last few years is a testament to the strength she carries.
“If at my lowest I can achieve that, then imagine when I am at my fullest,” Sepulveda Silvain said.
Alexandra Lopez: Inspired by Family and Headed to MIT
Alexandra Lopez reached her educational goals through hard work, perseverance and the support of the people closest to her.
“My sister is my greatest role model and she graduated from Rio Salado in 2022,” Lopez said. “It was through her example and personality that I was encouraged to strive for academic excellence.”
Through Rio Salado’s high school ACE program and dual enrollment, Lopez will graduate this spring with both her Desert Vista High School diploma and three associate degrees: Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in General Studies. She completed about 78 credits through Rio Salado.
“I am grateful for the different programs offered at Rio Salado as I was able to complete my degrees during high school,” Alexa said.
This fall, Lopez is committed to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she plans to pursue undergraduate studies in biology and chemistry. Her future goal is to become an anesthesiologist and help others through a career in medicine.
"My advice for students is to build connections with faculty and other students as it will provide you with the tools and experiences to aid in your future endeavors."