By Sally Mesarosh When Austin Hornbaker first walked into the guidance department at Corona del Sol High School, counselor Angela Carter knew she was dealing with an extraordinary 14-year-old. “He brought me an Excel spreadsheet that plotted his academic path through high school,” Carter said. “Intent on graduating in three years, while also earning an associate’s degree, he has never wavered from that path.” Now 17, Austin will graduate with two associates degree from Rio Salado College on May 5, a couple of weeks before receiving his high school diploma from Corona. To accomplish this, Austin said he used every resource available to him, earning credits at Rio Salado University, Mesa Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Arizona State University. He also took College Level Examination Program tests. What prompted Austin’s ambition to hop on the fast track to a college diploma? “My motivation behind all this is that I can do it,” said Austin, who ranks in the top 10 percent of his class. “My parents never pushed me. I just have this intrinsic compulsion to achieve my full potential, because anything less is a shame.” Austin first learned about dual enrollment and AP classes during his freshman year at Corona. “I knew that dual enrollment was a great opportunity to earn college credit for high school courses, and for me, outweighed the gamble of taking AP tests for credit at a university,” Austin said. “There is no exam for dual enrollment classes; as long as you pass the class, you will receive college credit, and most, if not all, dual enrollment credits transfer to all in-state universities.” Rio Salado Dual Enrollment Site Coordinator Bob Brown said most dual enrollment students are able and ambitious students like Austin who align themselves with honors/AP classes, upper level math and science classes, and more rigorous electives. “Austin is a unique student,” Brown said. “Not only is he able and ambitious, he is graduating one year early from high school and is meeting all the requirements to earn both AA and AS degrees.” Brown said Rio Salado College has experienced an increase lately in the number of students earning associate degrees by the time they complete high school. “Two years ago, Rio had one student receive an associate degree,” Brown said. “Last year, Rio recognized roughly 13 students. This year, that number has increased to 35 students earning an associate degree plus three more that received their associate degree post-high school graduation. “As for Austin, what is unusual is the fact that he is accomplishing this feat one year earlier than the rest. As far as able and ambitious are concerned, he represents ‘the most’ in my book.” In addition to Austin’s academic pursuits, he participates in sports and music activities. Wrangler News first reported on Austin in 2010 when, at age 12, he won the Junior Olympics National Championship Pentatholon Midget Boys category after training for only two months. He continued with his passion for athletics by participating in varsity track and cross country while at Corona and competed at a national-level track meet in California. Cycling is Austin’s main hobby. Not only does he cycle around town, he has built bikes from scratch at Bike Saviours, a donation/volunteer bike shop near ASU. “I love cycling because it is a great way to escape life, explore the city, clear my head and get exercise,” Austin said. But there’s more. Austin participated in Corona’s awardwinning drum line, marching band and jazz band. An avid puzzle solver, Austin created the Cube Club at Corona, a club centered around puzzles like the Rubik’s Cube. He can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 14 seconds flat. Counselor Carter said that for all of Austin’s accomplishments, one might think he’s just a robot, but he’s a genuinely nice guy. “He is a charismatic and affable young man who is highly civic minded,” Carter said. “He has been a Minitown counselor, intent on promoting diversity and awareness.” In the fall, Austin will pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics at ASU, his first two years already completed. With a four-year scholarship from ASU, he’s already contemplating a dual major, another minor or graduate level classes on the path to a Ph.D. Austin considers the possibility of working for NASA or CERN someday. Does Austin have any regrets about education in the fast lane? “I know that I’m sacrificing a lot for all this and am missing out on the ‘high school experience,’ “ Austin said. “But I think those things can wait. Being social isn’t limited to high school and my time is usually better spent being productive than socializing. It’s always a tough decision, and that’s why it’s not for everyone. “I know I have regrets about it, but I think I’d have a lot more regrets later looking back on all the opportunities I didn’t take. “I think the best analogy for what I’m doing is an investment. Like investing in a start-up business, the work I put in n ow will be exponentially more valuable with success than the same work put in later.”
