Ballardite Courtney Adams is heading to college and she's not even halfway finished with high school yet. The 16-year-old University Preparatory Academy student has secured a place at Bard College at Simon’s Rock for this coming fall thanks to her outstanding academic and personal achievements.

The campus in Great Barrington, Massachusetts is home to over 400 bright and highly motivated students who have all begun a rigorous college education immediately after the tenth or eleventh grade. Simon’s Rock students complete their bachelor’s degrees one or two years ahead of their peers.

“Simon’s Rock receives a number of impressive applications every year,” said Steven Coleman, Director of Admission. “In a highly selective process, Courtney’s remarkable academic and extracurricular achievements stood out.”

In addition to being a great student, Adams is an aerialist and flying trapeze artist. She works out at School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA), Emerald City Trapeze, and Versatile Arts in Greenwood.

At this time Adams hasn't decided on her direction of study yet, though isn’t she has always considered herself a ‘math and science kid', said mom Lori Adams.

"We are proud of her but most of all we are excited for her," said Lori Adams.