Student Spotlight: Rebekah Pendergraft

Rebekah Pendergraft, from Conway, earned her associate’s degree through the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) before many other students get their high school diploma.

Through UACCM’s concurrent enrollment program, Rebekah was able to wrap up her Associate of Arts in General Education degree at only 16 years old. 

“I am very thankful UACCM allowed me to take classes and provided a truly great education. I loved my instructors, and they were good to work with whenever I needed help or had to miss class due to an extracurricular high school activity,” said Rebekah, who outside of classes is a swimmer and diver, violist, and avid reader.

Given her unique schedule, Rebekah says one of the most important lessons she learned while at UACCM was time management, saying that it was important to her to turn in assignments and papers one day before their due dates. 

Rebekah also credits a couple of UACCM instructors for impacting her future. 

“Mr. Trower helped me see psychology as a degree option because he made the class so interesting,” said Rebekah, who is currently considering either nursing or psychology once she transfers to a 4-year university. 

Additionally, Rebekah said, “Mrs. Fields helped me learn how to analyze books which I can use for the rest of my life as an avid reader and English major.”

UACCM’s concurrent offerings are no secret to the Pendergraft household, as Rebekah’s two older brothers were also part of the UACCM concurrent enrollment program. 

Rebekah’s mother, Kim, says “I have been recommending UACCM to other parents and students for nearly 10 years. It allows a high school student to take different classes, gives them the opportunity to knock out some core classes early, and they can get a feel for what college is all about,” she said.

As for Rebekah, her goal now is to finish high school and have fun with whatever is next.  

“I want to work really hard now while I am in high school so I can fully enjoy the college experience. I want to swim and dive and not be so worried about school workloads.” 

For more information on the UACCM concurrent program, click here.