Getting a jump on education

Jay Fritzler just finished his eighth grade year at Sidney Public Schools, but he will be getting an unusual jump on his education as he attends summer classes at Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC)

Seeing a student start college classes going into their freshman year is not a common occurrence according to Sidney Superintendent, Jay Ehler.

"Most dual-credit or college credit courses are taken Junior year," said Ehler.

Jay's father, Erik Fritzler, said he saw Jay's potential at a young age, first seeing him excel in school in third grade.

"I started putting college math problems on the board early on," Erik said. "If they figured them out I would give them $20, it pushes them to push themselves."

The family moved from Lincoln to Sidney five years ago, when Erik took a job with Cabela's.

In an unprecedented move, Jay was accepted into WNCC with excellent recommendation from his teachers, and middle school Principle Brandon Ross, said Erik.

"They couldn't believe an eight grader wanted to apply," Erik said.

"I started class June 1," Jay said, "my goal would be to have my bachelors degree by the end of my junior or senior year."

"I am talking to the principal about excusing some of my extracurricular courses to take courses at the college," said Jay.

Jay is taking introduction to algebra this summer, a distance learning class out of the Scottsbluff campus with instructor Amy Winters.

Aiming his aspirations at the elite ivy league schools, Jay, hopes to become a theoretical physicist. His dream school would be Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

"I haven't decided where I would like to go in the U.S.," Jay said. "I just want to make a big discovery that changes the way we look at everything."

When he's not solving college math problems or thinking of changing the way the world looks at thing, Jay is like any other thirteen year old, playing basketball, hanging out with friends and playing video games.

Finding Scholarships for a student his age and grade level, Erik said, has proven to be one of the hardest parts about the process.

"We have been looking into scholarships but most if not all of them are for juniors and seniors," said Erik. "I don't mind paying out of pocket to see him succeed, but it would be a huge help if there were more grants out there for younger students."