At the age of 17, Ruth Mountz, a homeschooled student from Casa Grande, received her Associate of Arts in Administration of Justice from Central Arizona College and she’s also graduated from her high school. 

Mountz gives credit to her mother, who is an instructor at CAC, for introducing her to the college and the opportunities to begin her higher education career through the Early College program, according to a press release.

“Even when I wasn't sure what I was going to study, they supported me. They taught me the importance of finding a career path that I enjoyed. They were patient when I was anxious and struggling,” Mountz stated in the release. “I loved the CAC instructors. They were always supportive and open to all of my questions. I never felt inferior or too young. I was encouraged to push my boundaries, and I felt like they invested in me as a student.”

Mountz started classes at CAC as a 14-year-old and admits she didn’t really know exactly what she wanted to major in. She tried taking various classes before deciding on her final degree path. She will be graduating from both CAC and high school with a 4.0 grade point average.

“I would like students to know that when they start at CAC, they do not have to have it all figured out. You can enroll in classes that interest you and complement your homeschool lessons,” she added. “By taking it slow, I learned more about myself and in the end, this insight was invaluable. We have a really great community college that cares about our community.”

Mountz will begin classes this fall at the W. A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona. She will pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Law. Her career goal is to become a paralegal.