GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - Six students from Green Bay East High School are being recognized for their hard work after jump-starting their college education.

The kids are part of the city stadium automotive program, which gives them college credit toward becoming an automotive maintenance technician.

Each student will graduate with 26 or more college credits to NWTC and will continue toward a technical diploma or an associate degree.

The program cuts the amount of time they would spend in college by at least half

"They spend about two and a half hours a day with me over two years so their junior year is really like the first semester of college and then their senior year would be like their second semester of college and then when they leave here, they can move right into the second year of college," Ben Hendricks, City Stadium Automotive Instructor said.

Bergstrom Automotive, Le Mieux Toyota, and Gandrud Auto Group are all sponsors of the program and give graduates the chance to work for them after completing the program.