First Youth Development grads walk
By Joselin Alcantara - Staff Reporters
Students from Highline's first ever bachelor's degree program will graduate this spring.
The Bachelor of Applied Behavioral Science in Youth Development is one of the four bachelor programs offered at Highline and will be graduating 15 students this spring.
One of the leaders and instructors of this program is Human Services Coordinator Dan Drischel.
"Students in the Human Services department have always demonstrated an interest in advocating and supporting youth," Drischel said.
Which is why when the opportunity to create this into a BAS degree came, the committee applied right away and worked with the other three programs that were also becoming BAS degrees, Drischel said.
One student from the program, Lorena Seipen, said she waited a year to apply to the new program after receiving her Human Services associates degree from Highline.
She said she felt comfortable with Highline and liked the support from Drischel.
Another student from the program, Marianne Carreño, said she would definitely recommend the program because it is very well-rounded and the instructors are very helpful and supportive.
Even after looking at other schools for the same program, both students said they chose Highline because of the supportive instructors and the opportunities it offers.
"The program got off to a good start and experiencing steady growth," Drischel said.
Drischel said he is also very excited for the future of the program because they will be working with more King County youth-serving agencies, and that will establish more internships and employment opportunities.
"We are gradually adding adjunct instructors who lead agencies themselves to take advantage of their expertise," Drischel said. "Our goal is to have the program continue to grow and continuously improve in its ability to provide an authentic and applicable learning experience."
Both students said they are excited and proud to be a part of one of the first graduating BAS degrees at Highline.
