Student earns associate degree before high school diploma

Emma Tran graduates with her associate degree three weeks before getting her high school diploma. Tran is also a recipient of a Gates Millennium Scholarship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Emma Tran, a recent graduate of Clear Horizons Early College High School, earned an associate's degree in English three weeks before receiving her high school diploma.

Tran, who received her degree in English, has a history of exceptional writing skills.

At age 15, she interned as a reporter at the Southampton Press in Long Island, N.Y. Shortly thereafter, Tran began taking creative writing and literature classes at San Jacinto College.

She plans to continue her education at Tulane University in New Orleans.

"I've always wanted to work for a humanitarian organization like the United Nations or the World Health Organization because I want to be able to help people facing global health issues," said Tran in a press release. "Tulane's program is definitely a step in that direction. It's the only tropical medicine program in the country."

Tran was one of 1,000 recipients of the Gates Millennium Scholarship from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"Emma is an outstanding student, very driven, and has a natural talent for writing," said Greg Smith, an English professor at San Jacinto College South Campus.

The scholarship will help Tran pursue a degree in any undergraduate major. It also provides graduate school funding in the areas of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and science.