Minnesota Virtual Academy to Celebrate Class of 2016 Graduation

HOUSTON, Minn., June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Minnesota Virtual Academy (MNVA)-- an accredited, tuition-free, online public school--will honor the Class of 2016 at a graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 5. This year, 119 students will receive their high school diplomas from MNVA, which is a program of Houston Public Schools and is available statewide to Minnesota students in grades K-12.

Of this year's graduates, 30 will be recognized as honor students, having maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The class co-valedictorians are Abigail Franz and Samson Riley Hall.

"The best part of being an online student has been the flexibility to be able to graduate high school, work on college with PSEO, as well as work a part-time job," stated co-valedictorian Hall.

Co-valedictorian Franz agrees. "I really enjoyed the honors classes I took. The classes were small--about 10 or 12 people--and everyone was friendly and studious. We had some great discussions."

Ms. Krin Abraham, Superintendent of Houston Public Schools and Head of School for MNVA, will deliver an address to the graduates during the ceremony, which is also to include a formal presentation of diplomas and will conclude with a reception for the Class of 2016 and their families. Co-valedictorian Abigail Franz and Mitchell Rudoll, an Honor Student, will also address their fellow graduates at the ceremony and many MNVA teachers and staff will be in attendance to recognize the students' achievements. Graduates are expected to pursue higher education at institutions including Bemidji State University, Augsburg College and University of Minnesota.

"Every year I am impressed by the intelligence and drive of our seniors," said Ms. Abraham. "The Class of 2016 is no exception. We are proud to have participated in preparing them for their next stage of life, whether that is college or a career."

Through a combination of online instruction, hands-on curriculum and the support of Minnesota-licensed teachers, MNVA fosters an individualized approach to education for each student. In order to attain their diplomas, high school students are required to successfully complete 48 credits in the areas of English, math, science, social studies, fine arts, physical education, career and technical education and general electives. Students must also meet all state testing requirements before earning their diplomas.

Graduation will be held at Envision Catering & Hospitality (formally the Prom Center) in Oakdale at 1 PM on June 5^th. Media are welcome to attend.

About Minnesota Virtual Academy
Minnesota Virtual Academy (MNVA) is an accredited, full- and part-time online public school program of Houston Public Schools that serves students in grades K through 12. As part of the Minnesota public school system, MNVA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the award-winning curriculum and tools provided by K¹² Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs. MNVA provides a rigorous, engaging curriculum, including courses in language arts/English, math, science, history, world languages, art and music, as well as elective and Advanced Placement® courses for high school students. Students use web-based lessons and hands-on instructional materials, which are shipped to their homes. For more information about MNVA, including upcoming events and how to apply, visit http://mnva.k12.com.

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SOURCE Minnesota Virtual Academy

Related Links

http://mnva.k12.com