15-Year-Old Liberty – A 15-year-old earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from Liberty and says her family’s faith and missions experience shaped her plans.
A 15-year-old has turned a major milestone into a message about possibility: Karis Dryer, the youngest bachelor’s degree graduate in Liberty University’s Class of 2026, has earned a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education and is preparing to begin work in the field she loves.
Dryer’s graduation stood out not only for her age, but for the path behind it.. She discovered early academic strength alongside her older sister. Alethia. and both sisters managed to pass a college entrance exam while still in elementary school—Karis at 10 and Alethia at 12.. Instead of waiting. the two followed a structured route through higher education: first enrolling at their local community college for associate’s degrees. then transferring to Liberty University Online Programs to complete their bachelor’s degrees.
The sisters’ accomplishments are arriving as part of Liberty University’s larger Commencement celebration for the Class of 2026. with the university marking over 32. 000 graduates preparing to “impact the world as Champions for Christ.” For Karis. that moment is also tied to family legacy.. She is following in the footsteps of her mother. Darlene Dryer. and her great-grandfather. Robert Stewart. both of whom attended Liberty.
Darlene Dryer earned a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling through the John W.. Rawlings School of Divinity through online study. while Stewart studied through the Liberty Home Bible Institute. described as a home correspondence diploma program that is now associated with the Willmington School of the Bible.. Darlene said the connection runs deeper than school itself—she once imagined her grandad’s pride when she attended. and now she’s watching two daughters graduate. sharing that sense of continuity within the family.
Family support also extends beyond faith and education history.. Darlene noted that her husband has earned five master’s degrees and two doctorates. describing academics as a “Dryer family hobby.” In a household where study has long been part of life. Karis’s early acceleration and steady progress reflect more than talent—they are portrayed as the result of being steered toward opportunities that challenge her.
Karis began taking classes with Liberty last summer. and she described how her motivation sharpened after returning from a missions trip to Honduras.. That experience, she said, contributed to what she described as a calling toward full-time missions.. Even with graduation in hand. she linked her academic plans to long-term purpose. including the possibility of working overseas as a teacher. potentially in settings like orphanages.
Her time at Liberty. she said. helped shape how she thinks about teaching—especially as someone preparing to enter classrooms with different environments.. She pointed to elementary education coursework that emphasized what it means to live and teach as a Christian in both public-school and private-school contexts. describing how that helped her form a mindset she expects to carry into any classroom.
Even while pursuing a degree at an age when many peers are still focused on school routines. Karis kept life broadly “normal. ” according to her account.. She continued participating in youth and school athletics, including swim, soccer, volleyball, and basketball.. She also remained active in church life. singing in her church’s youth band and adult choir—choices that. in her telling. helped her maintain balance while pushing academically.
Her graduation also reflects how the program supported her given the difference between her age and many classmates.. Karis said Liberty worked to encourage students to keep going and helped her make the overall experience a positive one. even though she was younger than many of those around her in the program.
With Commencement approaching in Lynchburg. the plan is for the family to travel to celebrate both sisters’ accomplishments together this week.. For Karis. the next step is already lined up: she plans to continue her education at Liberty by pursuing a master’s degree in global and intercultural leadership. and she intends to move directly into teaching.
That start in education begins with another form of service this summer. Karis said she will teach Sunday School at her church’s Spanish sister church, connecting her interest in teaching with community work while she transitions into her broader career goals.
Darlene said she has watched her daughter handle the demands that often come with advanced academics. adding that as a homeschool mom she wasn’t always sure how to advocate for that level of achievement.. She described Karis’s journey as meeting challenges “as a cakewalk. ” framing the outcome as something that began with finding the right avenue and trusting it was an answer to prayer.. For her. seeing Karis walk across the stage is portrayed as affirmation that the family acted on what they felt was meant to be opened.
Karis also hopes her story reaches other teenagers who may be considering college early.. She said the process doesn’t have to be overwhelming: starting with a single class can be a major achievement. and students can adjust their course load over time.. In her view. pursuing academic growth doesn’t require changing one’s lifestyle dramatically. because success can come step by step.
As Karis moves from graduation into teaching, her message is built around both ambition and reassurance—she is proof, in her own life, that early academic opportunities can be pursued without losing the everyday routines that keep young students grounded.
Karis Dryer Liberty University elementary education degree Class of 2026 young college graduate missions trip Honduras teaching future plans