MARIETTA— Washington State College of Ohio’s (WSCO) student of the month Ethan Gault has a future that’s out of this world—literally and figuratively. The College Credit Plus (CCP) student from Marietta High School is fast on his way to being a part of the exploration of the final frontier.
It all started with one small step for Gault when he took the initiative as a rising 8th-grader to enroll in a summer class through CCP, an early college initiative that allows Ohio students in 7th through 12th grade the opportunity to earn college credits at little or no cost. The 13-year-old, who had a reputation for being an academic over-achiever, was looking for a challenge. The fact that CCP offered him the added bonuses of earning an associate degree while in high school and reducing the number of classes at his future four-year school, only served to fuel his desire.
With his initial enrollment, he had only a vague plan for his future. He knew he wanted to be an engineer, but he just wasn’t sure which field would rocket him into a fulfilling occupation. It was a career assessment quiz administered by his high school that showed his propensity for aerospace engineering. That inclination was further intensified by the increased media coverage of the recent progress in the private sector space industry, specifically the strides Elon Musk is making with SpaceX.
In May, before the Marietta High School senior gets his diploma, he will walk across the stage to receive two associate degrees, liberal arts and general science. From there he plans to make a giant leap into his future to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and business. He has been accepted by his top three college choices and is currently trying to decide which will give him the greatest thrust into a successful profession.
He’s shooting for the moon and beyond with his career plans. He wants to work on and design the equipment that is headed into space, but said he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to float among the stars himself. After college, he hopes to secure employment with a private space company or NASA. His long-term goal is to give Elon Musk a run for his money by combining the power of the aerospace engineering and business degrees and starting his own space company.
Gault said his early college experience serves as a valuable launch pad for his future academic endeavors. “Through the College Credit Plus program, I’ve been able to learn and grow on a college campus and meet students from around the area. This experience has prepared me for my future college endeavors. Therefore, the transition will not be as demanding for me as it might be for students not accustomed to the college life environment.”
For additional information about Ohio’s CCP program at Washington State College of Ohio, or get details on an upcoming CCP Planning Session, visit wscc.edu/future/early-college/ccp.
