15-year-old college graduate earns education degree, shares family’s love for Liberty
>>This month, Liberty University celebrates over 32,000 graduates who’re able to impression the world as Champions for Christ. Follow Liberty News for full Commencement protection and extra tales of trials and triumph from the Class of 2026.
As the youngest bachelor’s diploma in Liberty University’s Class of 2026, 15-year-old Karis Dryer might not be that far faraway from elementary faculty, however she is already graduating effectively on her approach to a profession working with kids after incomes a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education.
Dryer found her extraordinary educational expertise when she and her older sister, fellow 2026 Liberty graduate Alethia, age 18, handed a college entrance examination on the ages of 10 and 12, respectively. The sisters from Winter Haven, Fla., enrolled of their local people college for their affiliate’s levels and transferred to Liberty University Online Programs to finish their bachelor’s levels. Alethia earned a Bachelor of Science in Digital Design: Photographic Design.
In addition to graduating alongside her sister, Karis is following within the footsteps of her mom Darlene (’23) and great-grandfather Robert Stewart (’86), who each attended Liberty. Darlene Dryer earned a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling by the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity on-line, whereas Stewart studied on the Liberty Home Bible Institute, a house correspondence diploma program (now Willmington School of the Bible).
“It’s pretty amazing that when I went to Liberty, I was thinking about my greatness who went there and how proud that would make him feel,” Darlene Dryer stated. “Now, me being the student and having two daughters graduate from Liberty… it’s special. It’s something we can share that we are Liberty graduates.”
Darlene Dryer additionally famous her husband has earned 5 grasp’s levels and two doctorates, calling teachers a “Dryer family hobby.”
Karis began taking lessons with Liberty final summer season however discovered extra motivation to give attention to her research after coming back from a missions journey to Honduras and feeling a calling towards full-time missions. She stated her time with Liberty has helped her really feel extra ready to someday be a instructor herself, probably working abroad at orphanages.
“(Liberty) has helped me have a different perspective on what it would be like to teach,” she stated. “I really like how the elementary education classes point out what it’s like to be a Christian in a public-school atmosphere and a private atmosphere. I think that helped me create the right mindset for whenever I walk into any type of classroom.”
While incomes her bachelor’s diploma, Karis continued to stay life as a standard teenager, collaborating in swimming, soccer, volleyball, and basketball groups whereas additionally singing in her church’s youth band and grownup choir.
She stated Liberty offered her with the instruments she wanted to reach the classroom, though she was a lot youthful than lots of her classmates.
“(The school) has done a really good job working with us, encouraging us to keep going, and really making it a great experience.”
The household plans to journey to Lynchburg to have fun the birthdays of each sisters this week at Liberty’s 53rd Commencement.
Karis hopes to proceed her academic journey at Liberty by pursuing a grasp’s diploma in global and intercultural leadership. She will head straight into instructing. This summer season, she’s going to train Sunday School at her church’s Spanish sister church.
“Since she was very young, people have talked to us about Karis’ advanced academic level,” Darlene Dryer stated. “As a homeschool mom, I wasn’t really sure how I could advocate for that. She has met every challenge as a cakewalk. It’s a culmination of thanking the Lord that we found an avenue that challenged her — that’s been an answer to prayer. Having her walk across that stage is an affirmation that I was obedient with what God laid before us and allowed her to walk through whatever doors were open.”
Karis hopes to set a constructive instance and be an encouragement for different youngsters contemplating pursuing a college diploma at a younger age.
“You can take one class, and that is (already) a huge accomplishment,” she stated. “You can always add more classes and take away classes. You don’t have to change much of your lifestyle to do great things in your academic life.”
