The course: public speaking.

The assignment: impromptu speeches.

Cody Reynolds' topic: The influence of penguins in his life.

In less than three minutes the 17-year-old crafted a jocular speech about flightless birds in "sweet tuxedos."

The course, assignment and topic may not be typical for a high school student, but Cody isn't a typical student. As other high schools are recognizing their graduates this spring, Cody and 22 of his Bedford County peers completed their first year of college -- while juniors in high school.

The 23 students -- two from Staunton River, eight from Jefferson Forest and 13 from Liberty high schools -- are the first to go through the county's early college program. This time next year the group is set to receive high school diplomas from their home high schools and associate degrees from Central Virginia Community College.

This was the first year of the cooperative program between Bedford County Public Schools and the community college. The public school system pays half the tuition and the students' parents are responsible for the balance plus textbooks.

Aside from a few logistical kinks, program director Robert Lowry said the inaugural year was a success. He knows it because he said no parents have phoned him in about six months.

Lowry said he has worked hard to encourage the students to be personally responsible for their own education, something he said is central to the college experience.

"There was a bit of shock the first semester," Lowry said. "These students were accustomed to not studying a lot but getting the highest marks."

Tyler Grachan, 16, said he struggled with pre-calculus.

"I passed with a C but knew I could get an A," he said.

Tyler opted to retake the course, and he finished with a 98 average.

The early college students spend the first half of each day at CVCC's Bedford campus. Many return to their high schools for afternoon classes. Some, such as Tyler who played soccer and Cody who ran track, participate in sports. The majority of the class also work part-time jobs.

"They are not just an academically driven group but a well-rounded group," Lowry said.

Kim Nowlin, 17, applied to both the early college program and Roanoke Valley Governor's School. She was accepted to both but chose early college because she knows having an associate degree will give her an edge when applying to four-year colleges.

There are 23 four-year college and universities in Virginia that guarantee admission with an associate degree and a minimum grade-point average. Admission won't likely be a problem for Kim, who said she earned all A's -- except for one B -- this year.

One student dropped out of the early college program but not because the program was too cumbersome.

Lowry said that student elected to transfer to the community college's main campus in Lynchburg where she could take 21 credit hours versus the 14 offered in the first semester of early college.