Ed Priestley was 16 when he started taking classes in 2022 through the Early College on a College Campus program at Great Bay Community College. The Early College program encourages high
He and a friend, also 16, enrolled in a criminal justice course together.
“We wondered if we were in over our heads, but we both pulled straight As,” said Priestley, now 19. “I am set to graduate this semester with a 3.97 GPA. I definitely got out of it what I came for, and in some cases, even more. When I started, I thought I had no business being at a college. But I did. I just didn’t know it at the time.”
Priestley’s success highlights the opportunity of Early College. Available to high school juniors and seniors, Early College offers a large selection of courses during the day and evening, all taught by college professors. In addition to earning credits toward high school graduation, Early College students earn credits that can be used at Great Bay and colleges and universities nationwide.
The ability to transfer credits is important to Priestley, who is using the credits he earns at Great Bay as the foundation for additional educational experiences and a career in the military and homeland security.
Priestley enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in spring 2024, pausing his Great Bay education after earning 30 credits toward his degree to prepare for basic training and his six-year military commitment. He resumed his education this past summer as an active member of the Air National Guard.
An Airman First Class who specializes in security, he views his Early College experience at Great Bay as integral to his military success, and he credits Eric Kulberg, department chair and professor of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security, for helping him choose his path.
“Eric was fantastic working with me and helping make all of this happen. I took my first class at Great Bay with him and he has kept his eye on me, which I appreciate,” said Priestley, who came to Great Bay as a homeschool student. “The actual experience of being 16 or 17 in a class with people in their 20s or older was interesting and challenging. But it was a welcoming environment, and I made a few good friends in the programs and classes. I was in classes with veterans, who knew what I was getting into. It was helpful to talk with them.”
Among the skills he has acquired at Great Bay were efficient study habits, effective communication techniques, and the ability to process knowledge critically and apply it to present-day situations, he said.
After graduating this fall with an associate degree in Homeland Security, Priestley plans to pursue a second associate degree in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force. From there, he intends to transfer his combined community college credits to the University of New Hampshire for a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security.
By the time his military commitment is up four-plus years from now, he expects to have earned two two-year degrees and a four-year degree while attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. All of that will prepare him for a career with the U.S. Marshal Service or another law enforcement agency, such as the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, or Secret Service.
When he pauses to reflect, Priestley is astounded how much his life has changed since his mother encouraged him to contact Great Bay to ask about Early College.
“I wanted none of that, but I wound up finally saying, ‘Why not?’ That turned out to be a great decision.”