<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/news/2025/fast-track-to-the-future-local-high-schoolers-poised-for-early-college-degrees.html" dsn="news"><featured/><pubDate>05/09/2025</pubDate><title>Fast Track to the Future: Local High Schoolers Poised for Early College Degrees</title><campus>Marshalltown Community College</campus><image><img src="/_migrated-binaries/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Morning-Welding-300x212.jpg" alt="welding-students-graduating-mcc-hiighschool"/></image><caption>Morning welding students from left to right: Jay Bru (GMG), Kevin Hill (BCLUW), and Ian Corral (STC). Second row left to right: Emmitt Petermeier (BCLUW), Ryan Mitchell (BCLUW), Grady Dieleman (GMG), Wade Weuve (WM) and Dawson Bear (WM).</caption><thumbnail/><description>Marshalltown, IA &amp; Grinnell, IA – It’s an uncommon path, yet forty-eight ambitious high school students in our community, the reality of holding a college degree is fast approaching – even before they walk across the stage for their high school graduation. Earning your high school diploma may see...</description><tags><tag>academics</tag><tag>awards-honors</tag></tags></item>