Students Across Oregon Graduate from Willamette Connections Academy

More than 60 students graduated from Willamette Connections Academy, a tuition-free full-time online public school as part of the Class of 2022. To celebrate, the virtual school is hosted an in-person commencement ceremony for graduates, family, friends, and school staff Saturday, June 11th in Scio.

These seniors will forever remember how COVID-19 impacted their high school experience in some way. “The commitment these students demonstrated to their academics is so impressive considering how challenging the pandemic has been,” said Heather Engelhardt, Willamette Connections Academy Principal. “We were pleased to offer a continuous, stable and safe educational option to prepare the Class of 2022 for a successful future.”

Among the graduating class, 56 percent plan to attend two- or four-year colleges or universities, 14 percent are taking a gap year, 12 percent plan to enter the workforce and the rest plan to attend vocational training programs, join the military or are undecided.

Many graduates have expressed interest in career paths related to health care, especially mental health. Others have a focus on animal care, cosmetology, education, technology and engineering.

“We chose Willamette Connections Academy because I wanted to make sure I was still getting a good education with all the craziness from the pandemic,” said Valedictorian Summer Melahn who enrolled in the fall of 2020. “We decided if I was going to learn online, I should do it somewhere that already knows how to. I stayed with Willamette Connections Academy because I like the freedom I have with my schedule and the classes that they offered.” Melahn is headed to the University of Arizona to double major in Biology and Spanish and received the college’s highest merit-based scholarship of $35,000 per year.

Willamette Connections Academy provides students with the support of specially trained teachers and a high-quality curriculum to help them gain the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a changing world. The virtual school offers students advanced classes and flexible scheduling so they can learn at their own pace as well as explore extracurricular activities provided by the school or in the community.

Families interested in Willamette Connections Academy are encouraged to attend an online information session to find out more about the school, ask questions and see if virtual education is the right fit for their student. To learn more about the enrollment process, visit WillametteConnectionsAcademy.com or call 800-382-6010.

Information provided by Willamette Connections Academy.