DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM.

Dr. Tracey Boss of Hebron says her daughter, Breanna Soldatelli, a junior at Mardela Middle and High School, is graduating from high school and starting college a year early — thanks to Wor-Wic Community College’s dual enrollment program.

Boss says dual enrollment was her daughter’s idea. Breanna wanted to start college early and earn a 5.0 grade point average (GPA) while in high school, which she is doing by taking advanced placement (AP) and dual enrollment courses.

Soldatelli enrolled in Wor-Wic’s dual enrollment program this past fall, after taking a dual enrollment class at Salisbury University in the 10th grade. She has since enrolled in two more dual enrollment courses at Wor-Wic.

“As a parent whose first child is going to college, it’s hard to let go, but at the same time it is very exciting to explore the prospects,” said Boss. “The experience at Wor-Wic has been hassle free and supportive.” Boss said that she was apprehensive at first, but after she met with Richard C. Webster, director of early college initiatives, “he quickly reassured me and alleviated my concerns.

“I think it is essential to have a person dedicated to dual-enrolled students,” Boss added. “That made all the difference for us at Wor-Wic. He was already familiar with the circumstances surrounding Breanna. He was very knowledgeable and effective. He even explained that dual enrollment came with a tuition discount, which I was unaware of.”

Boss says the program has not only contributed to Soldatelli achieving a 5.0 GPA, it has helped prepare her daughter for the rigors of college. “I feel dual enrollment is akin to a mini-college experience,” Boss said. “It has allowed for growth and independence within the safety and security of supportive staff and home life. I would tell parents considering it that it is a definite yes – you won’t regret it.”

Soldatelli will enter the neuroscience program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in the fall, to begin her path toward becoming a neurosurgeon. Once her schooling is complete, she plans to return to the Lower Shore to practice in Salisbury, where her mother is a medical optometrist specializing in neuro-optometry and pediatrics.