CANTON, Ga. -- When Misty Barry was recruited as a foster parent, she had no idea of the multiple challenges she will face in serving and supporting her foster kids. As a foster parent, she knew she was expected to arrange and transport children to medical appointments, mental health counseling sessions and court hearings, advocate on behalf of their foster kids at school and arrange visits with birth parents and caseworkers. However, one thing she was not expecting was having to pay for haircuts, buy clothes, school supplies, diapers, baby formulas and pay for extracurricular activities with her own money.

CANTON, Ga. -- A young woman from Cherokee County is well on her way to earning a whopping 52 hours of college credit before she even graduates from high school.

Emily Solon is a senior at Creekview High School in Canton, but she also takes classes at Kennesaw State University. She began completing college-level courses in her junior year and has maintained a 3.9 GPA.

Solon has been named KSU's Outstanding Dual Enrollment Honors Student for the 2012-2013 school year. She will also be honored for her many accomplishments by the Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent at the board's next meeting on Jan. 17.

When she's not in the classroom, Solon works part-time at Walgreens. She is a martial arts enthusiast and holds a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Solon is also an environmental science and pre-calculus supplemental instruction leader at KSU and works in the university's math lab.

MARIETTA, Ga. -- More than 1,100 students have applied to graduate from Chattahoochee Technical College this month.

The Marietta-based school's commencement ceremony will be held Dec. 17 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

One remarkable soon-to-be-graduate is George House of Canton. House is a former combat medic who entered Chattahoochee Tech with hopes of becoming a nurse. However, he soon discovered that he had a knack for working with electronics.

"I learned about the classes in biomedical and realized it would be a good fit," said House, who is receiving an associate of science in electrical and computer engineering technology with a specialization in biomedical instrumentation technology. "It is an area with great potential for growth and careers."

"I'm looking to secure a position with a company where I can continue to grow and learn," House added.