DMACC Program Gives High School Students the Ability to Earn College Credits for Free

DSM provides a wealth of opportunities for youth — including the ability for high school students to get a jump start on their future by earning Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) credits for free.

DMACC’s Career Advantage Program allows high school juniors and seniors in Greater Des Moines (DSM) to experience college-level courses and earn college credits free of charge. It also introduces them to career options. Classes are offered to those on a traditional college path, as well as those wanting to pursue trades options.

This year, a record-breaking 137 high school students earned their Associate of Arts (AA) degree through the DMACC Career Advantage program. For Johnston High School, it was the first time ever that two Johnston students earned their associate degree while still in high school.

Adonawit Meshesha and Reagan Dammeier celebrated their graduation from DMACC on May 7, 2025, receiving their AA degree even before graduating from Johnston High School on May 27, 2025.

They’re an inspiration to other students. Sixty-four credits is a lot and takes huge dedication. I say it is the scholarship you give yourself.

Saving Time and Money

To earn a Liberal Arts AA degree, each student is required to complete 64 credits — nine in communications, nine in social and behavioral sciences, nine in math and sciences, nine in humanities, 18 in elective courses, along with 10 additional credits.

Adonawit Meshesha (middle left) competes in National History Day.

“My main inspiration for completing my Associates of Arts Degree from DMACC stems from my realization of how much time and money I could save just by dedicating myself to hard work at the moment,” Meshesha said. “Riding through all the exhilarating peaks and lowest of valleys is SO worth it!”

The students each saved two years and a total of $12,160 ($190 x 64 credits) by getting their AA degrees while still in high school. Thanks to Johnston’s offering of concurrent enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, these students had the resources to begin completing their college credits early.

Reagan Dammeier (back middle) in bowling.

“I took a lot of dual enrollment classes that assisted me in working towards my degree,” Dammeier said. “I only took five courses through DMACC directly. The main difference is that DMACC has a lot of variety in course options. From a rigor perspective, some DMACC classes are easier than JHS AP courses, while others are more difficult.”

Johnston has more than 35 high school and middle school teachers who have met DMACC requirements to offer concurrent credit classes, which is a testament to the district’s quality teachers. The number of DMACC credits earned by Johnston High School students keeps increasing each year. This year, JHS students collectively earned 7,378 credits.

Their achievement serves as motivation for all students and shows it can be done. In the 2023-2024 school year, Johnston students earned 5,793 credits and we just received the data for this year 2024-2025 and that number has increased to 7,378 credits. That equates to Johnston families saving over 1.4 million dollars!

Johnston's strong focus on college and career readiness makes DMACC a perfect partner. Both institutions are committed to providing opportunities for all students — whether that is working toward a 4-year college, in trades or an associate degree.

We want to give every student the chance to earn college credits and credentials that will help them get a jump start in their future.

Adonawit Meshesha (second from left) in the stock market challenge.

Starting College as Juniors

While there are many degrees and certificates that students can earn at DMACC — such as in welding or to be a Certified Nursing Assistant — Meshesha and Dammeier are the first from Johnston to earn their full-fledged AA, a recognized degree, while still in high school.

They did so while being highly involved in high school, both in school and community activities.

• Meshesha took part in HOSA: Future Healthcare Professionals, FIRST Robotics, C.O.R.E. (Community of Racial Equity), NHD (National History Day), JHS Student Ambassadors and more. She also tutored AP Chemistry students and has held two jobs for over a year now.
• Dammeier was involved in varsity bowling, mock trial, National Honor Society and more. She also served as one of three student representatives on the Johnston school board, where she attended biweekly meetings and represented the student body.

The two students also gained experience of what it’s like to attend a college class in person.

Reagan Dammeier (far right) as a student representative on the Johnston School Board.

Meshesha and Dammeier both plan to attend the University of Iowa this fall. Thanks to their AA degrees, they will enter U of I as juniors. Meshesha plans to major in biochemistry and molecular biology on a pre-medical track, while Dammeier plans to study finance and political science on a pre-law track.

“Through the DMACC courses and Advanced Placement (AP) classes that I took in the process of obtaining a degree, I was able to learn what classes I enjoyed and what direction I wanted to go with my studies,” Dammeier said. “I also learned about how to balance a really busy schedule and the importance of studying hard to achieve goals.”

Growing Opportunity

I’m excited about the opportunity that DMACC provides Johnston High School students. I’ve met with more than 162 families this past school year to share information about DMACC credit and the potential of earning an AA degree, talking directly with students and families about completing 30 credits, so students can enter college as a sophomore.

Adonawit Meshesha at the 2025 Johnston High School Awards.

This is probably the work in my career that I am most proud of because it’s taken a ton of hours and work, but it has impacted the most students for the better.

Meshesha and Dammeier surpassed the 30-credit goal by completing 64 credits and their AA degrees, which will allow them to enter college as juniors.

“All I truly want for myself in the future is to continue to grow as a person,” Meshesha said. “I want to continue learning about myself and this world because I believe that if we stop finding interest in the small things, life can lose its spark. I want my future self to know that I’m already so proud of her and I hope she’s proud of me.”

Reagan Dammeier (far right, back row) in mock trial.

For Dammeier, the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school added to an already great experience of being raised in the Des Moines metro area and attending school in Johnston.

“I loved growing up in Des Moines because of the kind people I’ve met and the endless relationships I’ve built here,” she said.

DMACC Career Advantage Program

Those wanting more information about the DMACC Career Advantage program can learn more about it on the program’s website or by contacting their school counselor’s office. It’s one of many opportunities available to DSM high school students.

I encourage everyone to choose what works for them as they make their plan. You only get to do high school once, and we want students to enjoy that experience too! Our senior year exit survey showed that over 80% of our students were involved in one or more extracurricular activities at JHS, which is also important! Maybe you decide to earn 30 credits, that allows you to start college as a sophomore, which is a huge accomplishment. The key is we want to help students find their passions and what they are interested in to help them have a successful future, while balancing high school.

As the Johnston Community School District plans for the future, it keeps an eye on the economic drivers in the area and state. If there is a workforce shortage area, the district makes students aware of this and works to help the state address the shortage. The district continually adds concurrent classes across all departments. Career pathway documents are also being developed to further communicate options to students, so they can see the connection between classes and careers.

Another focus we have is making sure everyone is aware of this opportunity, and it can be as flexible as the student wants it to be. Sometimes students have a misconception that you must have a certain GPA, which is incorrect. I am proud that we have over a 90% success rate of completion with our students taking advantage of this opportunity.

Job opportunities and career resources are abundant in Greater Des Moines (DSM). Whether you're looking to find an internship, a job, develop professionally or grow as a student, we have the resources to help you thrive.