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Waubonsee Community College has been a second home for Luke Kararo, of Oswego, since he was a child. After years of dropping off five of his older siblings for their dual credit courses at Waubonsee, the 15-year-old homeschooler is finally in a Waubonsee classroom himself, tackling a college-level Spanish course at the Sugar Grove Campus.
Collectively, the Kararo family, Noah (26), Ethan (24) Paul (21), Adam (19), Grace (17) have accumulated more than 250 college credit hours by fitting Waubonsee’s dual credit program into their high school homeschooling curriculum.
Now, the tradition continues with Luke, the latest Kararo student to begin his journey at Waubonsee.
"Waubonsee is a launching pad for us,” Dawn Kararo said. “It allows my kids to enter four-year schools as juniors or double major because they already have their general education requirements out of the way. The facilities here are nicer than some of the four-year schools we’ve toured."
Dawn views Waubonsee’s Aurora Downtown and Sugar Grove Campuses as extensions of her "home" school. “We’re really curating an experience,” she says. “I personally didn't want to set up a chemistry lab in my kitchen, so I appreciate that they can take Chemistry here. It validates the work we do at home when they succeed in a college classroom.”
The dual credit pathway paved the way for Dawn’s eldest son, Noah, to accelerate his college career quickly. Noah transferred his Waubonsee dual credits to the University of St. Francis, where he earned both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science in Management. That academic foundation paved the way for his success as a Financial Technology Process Analyst at a prominent law firm in Chicago.
Noah credits Waubonsee with leaving him prepared for the rigors of a four-year university. He now pays that preparation forward by mentoring high school students, and encouraging them to be intentional with their career exploration. “Simply reading about careers is not enough to make an informed decision,” Noah says. “Talk to folks in the industries you’re interested in, take 100-level courses, and find ways to shadow professionals. That way, you can get a true taste of what it’s like to walk in those shoes.”
Dawn’s second eldest son, Ethan, transferred Waubonsee’s dual credit to the University of Oklahoma to study meteorology. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology in May 2024 and became a U.S. Air Force Weather Officer. Since commissioning, Ethan has recently completed the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, earning the title of Paratrooper after rigorous training.
Adam, the fourth eldest son, is currently a freshman at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul Minnesota and is enrolled in the St. John Vianney College Seminary. With a natural talent for math, Adam completed Waubonsee's Calculus sequence and earned over 50 dual credits before finishing high school. This head start enabled him to triple major in Math, Philosophy, and Catholic Studies at St. Thomas. His mother, Dawn, highlights that Adam felt the Waubonsee math department was excellent and highly valued the quality of his instructors.
Following in his older brothers’ footsteps, Paul enrolled in Bradley University with a significant advantage. Thanks to Waubonsee’s dual credit program, Paul transferred over a year’s worth of general education requirements, including credit for English, Spanish, and Chemistry. This head start allowed him to dive immediately into his passion for Animation. While Paul is focused on the future of game design and comic arts, he looks back fondly on his time at Waubonsee, specifically the joy of performing in Waubonsee's Steel Band.
“I didn’t realize just how much of a leg up Waubonsee classes gave me. I was able to fulfill high-school and collegiate-level requirements simultaneously while getting acclimated to a traditional higher education institution environment, all while being close to home,” Paul said. “The amount of value you receive from WCC is invaluable, and your future self will never stop thanking your past self for attending Waubonsee.”
For Luke, the transition to taking dual credit courses at Waubonsee has been seamless. "It feels very normal," Luke says. "As long as you’re engaged and willing to work, you can treat the older students like peers—because that’s exactly what they are. The teachers at Waubonsee are amazing, and I know this experience will set me up very well for college.” Upon completing his dual credit coursework at Waubonsee, Luke aspires to compete as a student-athlete at a four-year institution.
Luke’s older sister Grace, is actively pursuing her passion for STEM through dual credit coursework at Waubonsee Community College. Now in her second year, she has already completed courses in American Sign Language, History, and English, and is currently enrolled in Chemistry Lab. Looking ahead, Grace plans to pursue a degree in Equine Science or Pre-Vet.
The Kararo family shows no signs of slowing down enrollment at Waubonsee. The momentum continues with Daniel (14), Mary (13), and Ray (11), all of whom plan to join Waubonsee’s dual credit program in the coming years, following in their siblings' footsteps. “I’ve been very impressed with the quality of faculty at Waubonsee over the years,” says Dawn. “My students have had many excellent professors.”
Above: Back Row (L to R): Adam Kararo, Ethan Kararo, Noah Kararo, Jeff Kararo, Dawn Kararo, Luke Kararo, Paul Kararo, Daniel Kararo
Front Row (Left to Right): Mary Kararo, Ray Kararo, Grace Kararo
