The road to college may feel daunting to some, but for 17-year-old Elizabeth Ann Burt, a senior at Odyssey Early College and Career Options, the idea of college was one she would pursue with vigor. Elizabeth has been a student at Odyssey for four years and says the people at her school helped her earn 63 transferable college credits, acceptance into the prestigious St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and a scholarship of over $130,000.

“Without Odyssey ECCO as a whole, or Dr. Mike Lamphere and Mrs. Angela Banfield, I wouldn’t be able to say that I’m graduating college as a 17-year-old. For four years, Odyssey has been my home, whether it was talking with Dr. Lamphere about my resume or music or standing with Mrs. Banfield as we taught journalism. I’ve grown up on the RJAWC campus, these people have seen me grow, and they have helped me every step of the way. I love them with every part of who I am because they have shown me love, compassion, and kindness,” says Elizabeth.

As impressive as all this is, this isn’t the only achievement on Elizabeth’s brag sheet. She’s also been a member of the Odyssey student leadership link crew, a member of the National Junior Honors Society, and a Pikes Peak State College Student Government Public Relations Senator. She’s been involved with her church, her school, and her community, and her service is paying off.

Elizabeth is pursuing a bachelor's degree in English Literature and would like to double major in Secondary Education. It seems her team of educators at Odyssey has had a lasting impression that will lead to more children being inspired when Elizabeth enters her career. “Without them, I wouldn’t be thinking about becoming a teacher or possibly going to law school. Without the things that they helped me build, I wouldn’t be able to look back on everything I did in high school and know that I built a legacy and that I ‘rose’ to the occasion. RISE is not just a [school] motto, it's the entire way of life at Odyssey, and I hope I have lived up to it.”