LARAMIE, Wyo., April 23 -- The University of Wyoming issued the following news release:

Alexandria Shinkle credits her hometown of Gillette with giving her a head start on her college education. The dual enrollment program with Gillette College allowed her to take college courses during high school at her own pace.

"Any high school student can take college credit, and they can take as much or as little as they want," Shinkle says. "It's a great way for students in our community to get ahead, figure out what they want to do and save so much money in the long run."

Now a junior studying environmental systems science, and environment and natural resources at the University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Shink...