CLEVELAND, OH — Catelyn Cook has made history as she became the youngest student to graduate with a law degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She’s 20 this year.
Before she graduated as valedictorian from Valley Forge High School in Parma in 2017, Cook started work on her bachelor’s degree from CSU in Criminology and Political Science.
Cook, an honors student during high school, undergraduate and law school, shared that she has been blessed with having a photographic memory that makes her can read something, quickly grasp the concept and retain the information.
“That changed somewhat during law school; I definitely needed to study more and take more detailed notes,” said Cook.
Cook started taking courses at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) when she was at the beginning of her freshman year at Valley Forge High School.
At age 16, she completed her associate and already undertaking her bachelor’s degree before graduating from high school. Cook credits faculty and staff at both Tri-C and CSU for their collective support and encouragement.
“Both Tri C and CSU have wonderful instructors, professors and staff who went above and beyond to provide guidance and support during my journey. Tri-C was an amazing steppingstone and resource that helped me advance to CSU and bring me where I am today,”
“I think my accomplishment is proof that if you have the drive and willpower to do something, you can accomplish what you set your mind to, regardless of your age or life circumstance,” added Cook.