How Dual Enrollment Helped Fuel This Eagle Aviator’s Drive to the Flight Deck

Hard work, determination, dedication and Dual Enrollment at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University have helped William Bourdeau (’24) get his aviation career off to a flying start.

“I am an Aeronautical Science major and I want to an airline pilot one day,” said William, who is now part of the renowned flight program at Embry‑Riddle’s Prescott Campus. “Doing Dual Enrollment helped me get most of my general education requirements and electives out of the way so I can focus more on aviation courses and flying.”

William got interested in aviation while he was growing up on the north side of Atlanta, Georgia, and he started flight training at a local FBO while he was still in high school, earning his private pilot license flying Cessna 172s.

He was already well aware of Embry‑Riddle’s reputation as a leading aviation and aerospace educator because his mom, Dr. Debra Bourdeau, is an associate professor at the Worldwide Campus College of Arts & Sciences, and also associate dean for Student Success and Academics.

Why Choose Dual Enrollment at Embry‑Riddle?

By the time he was a high school junior, William was already “focused on going to Embry‑Riddle.” He knew that the school’s highly regarded and fully online Dual Enrollment program, which allows students in grades nine through 12 to earn college credits while still in high school, could help accelerate his progress toward the flight program and, ultimately, his dream career.

“It turned out to be really manageable, which helped because I was also working two jobs in addition to high school and flight training,” William said of his Dual Enrollment experience. “The professors were always willing to work with me and help me adjust to the different environments.”

Although his life—like everyone else’s—was disrupted by the pandemic, William persevered and forged ahead toward his goal, determined to secure his seat on an airline flight deck. As he moved into his second year of the Dual Enrollment program as a high school senior and his classes became more aviation-centric, he realized another benefit that comes with the program.

“It really helped solidify the fact that flying was what I wanted to do,” he said. “Taking actual college courses just made me want to become a pilot even more.”

An Experienced Team Helps Chart the Course

With so many responsibilities to juggle, William was also grateful for the consistent support he received from Embry‑Riddle’s expert Dual Enrollment team.

“They were all great, and I specifically want to call out Samantha Miata (assistant director of the Dual Enrollment office),” he said. “She really helped me understand how the program worked in terms of workload and professor availability and stuff like that. I really appreciated having that kind of support.”

That same support also made a difference for William once he graduated high school and prepared to join the Prescott flight program in 2021.

“They helped me transfer credits and figure out what classes I needed and didn’t need to take,” he said. “Everyone was super cool, and they made the transition so much easier for me.”

How Could Dual Enrollment Work for You?

William is now in the final stretch of his academic journey and is a year ahead of many of his peers, which is another of the key benefits that flow from the initial investment of time and effort into Dual Enrollment.

Getting so many classes completed while still in high school will now allow him to take his flight training experience and respected Embry‑Riddle degree into the workforce just that much more quickly.

“I don’t regret my decision at all,” William said.

William also said that while taking college classes in high school can be rigorous, it can also help students figure out what passions they really want to pursue.

“Whether you want to get into engineering or aviation or cybersecurity or anything else, Dual Enrollment is a great way to solidify that, which is what it did for me,” he said. “And if you’re not sure, it can help you explore all the options that are out there. I would recommend Dual Enrollment at Embry‑Riddle to anyone.”

Get a jump on your future. Apply for Embry‑Riddle’s Dual Enrollment program today.