Elena Talingo, 19, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay just six months after finishing high school by completing 132 college credits through the Rising Phoenix Program. Her accelerated path, which began in 2023, saved her family about $80,000 and allowed her to graduate debt-free. Talingo earned a degree in Supply‑Chain Management, completed two internships, and has accepted a full-time position with Honeywell Aerospace in Minneapolis.
19-Year-Old Earns Bachelor's Degree Just Six Months After High School — Debt-Free and Job-Ready
WLUK-TV FOX 11/YouTubeElena Talingo
Elena Talingo, 19, graduated from Preble High School in Green Bay this spring and — just six months later — has earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
Talingo followed an accelerated pathway through UW–Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix Program, which enables motivated high-school students to take college-level courses. She began those courses in 2023 and accumulated 132 college credits before ever setting foot on campus, putting her on a fast track to graduation.
GettyUniversity of Wisconsin—Green Bay Campus
Debt-Free Degree And A Career In Hand
The dual-enrollment route saved her family an estimated $80,000 in tuition, textbooks and fees, allowing Talingo to graduate without student loan debt. She earned a degree in Supply‑Chain Management, completed two consecutive internships in the field, and has accepted a full-time role in Honeywell Aerospace’s Aerospace Development program in Minneapolis.
"It's definitely — I'm not going to say surprising. I'm just … I feel accomplished. I'm just speechless. Like, I actually did it," she told WLUK.
Lessons And Advice
Talingo said she valued both her high school and college experiences and urged other students to be proactive: "Take every opportunity you can. Ask questions, build connections, and never underestimate yourself. Rejection isn't failure — it's redirection." Graduating debt-free, she added, gives her greater financial stability as she begins her career.
