Rinne earns degree from Mid-Plains Community College one day before high school graduation

Since third grade, Klayton Rinne has dreamed of graduating with an associate degree at the same time as finishing high school.

Rinne recently walked across the stage earning an associate of science just one day before getting a high school diploma from Dundy County Stratton High School. 

“It felt amazing. Something I had bragged about since third grade became a reality,” Rinne said. “In third grade, I didn’t know if it was truly a thing. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year I realized it was truly attainable.”

Rinne participated in Inter-High Days sponsored by Mid-Plains Community College. The event offers the opportunity to earn summer scholarships by competing with other high schoolers in various categories.

“I won Inter-High Day scholarships from both competitions and took my first two classes with the college the summer of 2022,” Rinne said. “From there I really just found enjoyment in the challenge.”

During his junior year of high school, Rinne began enrolling in an MPCC course each term and soon realized that earning an associate degree was within reach. A combination of online and in-person classes helped make his goal achievable. Rinne’s self-advocacy skills and drive were also a huge factor.

“If there is something I believe I can do, I will do anything I can to achieve that goal,” Rinne said.

Abnormal Psychology class with instructor Courtney Johnston has been Rinne’s favorite so far.

“I really became fascinated with understanding the workings of the human mind, or the reality of what people think,” Rinne recalled.  

That understanding will come in handy as Rinne returns to MPCC to earn an associate degree of nursing in the fall. He has already attained his CNA and EMT certifications and is working this summer at Great Plains Health. 

“My end goal is to either pursue a career in flight nursing, going up in the helicopter and doing transport, or pursuing a graduate degree and becoming a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist),” Rinne said. “One of the things that I really love about nursing is how flexible it can be.”

Choosing MPCC is an easy choice, Rinne said.

“I would argue with anyone any day that it’s one of the best community colleges in the state of Nebraska and even nation because of the level of accessibility the Mid-Plains campuses provides for students,” Rinne shared.

With community campuses in Imperial, Ogallala, Broken Bow and Valetine and the new Learning Center in Benkelman, Rinne shared his excitement in having a facility in his hometown to utilize. 

“It’s a really great opportunity for community members to go and get an extra bit of education, even if they aren’t pursuing a degree. The course offerings add an extra layer of knowledge to reaffirm what they already know,” Rinne said. “Ultimately, the college is striving and perfecting the way they make education affordable, attainable and accessible to anyone who wishes to pursue it.”

Attending MPCC is a family affair.

“I’m a third generation MPCC alum. My grandmother earned a certificate at MCC. My mother and aunt both attended Mid-Plains before earning a higher education degree from a four-year institution,” Rinne said.

An MPCC tradition is to ask alumni to stand during the commencement ceremonies.

“Being able to look back and see the amount of my family that had been through McCook’s education, it was a significant moment for me because it made me realize just how substantial MPCC is in providing an accessible education,” Rinne said.

The well-spoken teenager credits the college for his success. His message for others is to challenge the norm in your comfortability. “Find some way to stop out of your comfort zone to improve yourself as a person,” Rinne shared.

“That’s another great thing about Mid-Plains, is if you’re struggling to succeed, there are people there that are going to ensure you have the resources you need to do the best you can,” Rinne said.  “As long as you’re willing to push yourself and find where your limits succeed and how you can surpass them, you can do anything in life.”