Alabama Connections Academy, Statewide K-12 Online Public School, Celebrates 231 Graduates
Virtual ceremony honors Class of 2020 with messages from notable Alabama natives including Mia Hamm, FIFA World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, Chris Fryer, Zach Brown Band drummer, and more
ATHENS, Ala., June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Alabama Connections Academy (ALCA), a tuition-free virtual public school for students in grades K-12 across the state, celebrated its graduates with a virtual ceremony on Thursday, May 21. The school holds a traditional in-person ceremony each year, but due to social distancing, the graduation was moved online. The Class of 2020 is made up of 231 graduates who earned an impressive $1.8 million in scholarships and awards. The virtual ceremony is available at http://www.alca2020.com.
"We have an amazing group of seniors, and we're so happy to celebrate all of their accomplishments," said Jodie Dean, principal of Alabama Connections Academy. "The Class of 2020 have exciting plans and given the strength of character they continue to show, I know they all have a bright future ahead. While life is a bit different at the moment, being in the virtual environment allowed students to successfully complete their senior year without any obstacles. With the support of Limestone County Schools, we were able to create a special ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments."
The ceremony featured student speakers and surprise messages from notable Alabama natives, including MLB and NFL All-Star Bo Jackson; Chris Fryer, drummer for the Zac Brown Band; two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion, Mia Hamm; award-winning astronaut Jan Davis; and more.
This year's graduating class has exciting future plans. Sixty percent will attend two- or four-year colleges or universities. Additionally, graduates intend to enter the workforce directly upon graduation (21 percent), attend vocational training programs (5 percent) or join the military (3 percent).
Valedictorian Jordan Hassell offered his classmates some words of wisdom during the virtual ceremony, "No matter where this next chapter takes you, go out into the world and make a positive impact by helping others and making them feel good and happy." The salutatorian, who also shared a message with fellow graduates, is Zion Tebo.
The virtual school delivers high-quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers, a proven online curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences—online and in person—to create a supportive environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. Students work with certified teachers online and on the phone while a parent or other adult "Learning Coach" monitors progress in the home.
Enrollment for Alabama Connections Academy's 2020-2021 school year is currently open. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit http://www.AlabamaConnectionsAcademy.com.
About Alabama Connections Academy
Alabama Connections Academy (ALCA) is a tuition-free, online public school for students in grades K-12. The school is authorized by Limestone County School District and began serving students in the 2017-18 school year. Alabama Connections Academy provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere there is an Internet connection and with an innovative online school curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. The combination of certified Alabama teachers, an award-winning curriculum, engaging electives, technology tools, and social experiences provides a supportive online learning opportunity for students who want an individualized approach to education.
For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit http://www.AlabamaConnectionsAcademy.com.
SOURCE Alabama Connections Academy
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