By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The youngest graduate of this year's Hays High School class finds hard work comes naturally as she advances toward completing college ahead of schedule.
Sixteen-year-old Sophia Ballenger started reading at age 3 and maintained straight A's throughout her K-12 school career.
Sophia said she got ahead of the curve in her first year of high school after attending Goddard Academy and excelling as a gifted student.
"I completed 12 credits instead of the typical seven my freshman year," she said. "That set me on track to graduating early."
In ninth grade, Sophia completed two English grade levels in one semester and began her college journey by her sophomore year at age 15.
With permission from the school board, Sophia skipped her junior year and advanced directly to senior status in the fall semester of 2023.
"I've always been the youngest person in my class," Sophia said.
Sophia's rapid school completion allowed her to concentrate on her future as she prepares to pursue an art education degree at Fort Hays State University.
As a new tiger this fall semester, Sophia plans to take as many credits as possible and utilize multiple grants, which her mom said were essential.
"The scholarships are amazing," Shannon Ballenger said. "I don't know if I could have sent her to college without the scholarship she got, so we are extremely thankful for that."
Sophia's scholarships include:
- Green and Gold Scholarship, Colorado State University
- Tiger Pride Scholarship, FHSU
- Chancellor’s Scholarship, Kansas University
- Hansen Student Scholarship, Dane G. Hansen Foundation
Although FHSU is a four-year school, Sophia aims to stay ahead of the curve and graduate by 2027, having already completed a third of her first college year.
As the youngest graduate in Hays High's class of 2024, she never felt excluded from her classmates during graduation proceedings.
"They treated me like every other student who was graduating, which I appreciated," she said.
Alongside her high school diploma, Sophia was honored with the Outstanding Academic Achievement award and Summa Cum Laude, boasting a 3.95 GPA.
Despite the hard work Sophia has dedicated in her teenage years, Shannon said it had not stopped her from enjoying the luxuries of being young.
Sophia participated in various extracurricular activities, including the art club, knitting club and the Hays High production of "Sweeney Todd."
"She got to flex out some of her senior classes. She had more teenage time when she didn't have to go to classes because she was so far ahead," Shannon said.
Sophia acknowledges the support she has received from Hays High's gifted teacher Jerry Braun; art teacher Grace Splichal; counselor Alyssa Chappell and other faculty.
"I was motivated by getting my schooling done early so I could start on my college education and get that higher level of learning," she said.