Utah Virtual Academy to host in-person graduation on May 26

SALT LAKE CITY, May 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 108 students who attend classes online will meet in-person to celebrate their graduation from Utah Virtual Academy  (UTVA), a tuition-free, online public school, on Thursday, May 26.

UTVA's unique programs and opportunities ensure each student has the opportunity to be successful in school and beyond.  The school offers an active, supportive school community, a range of extracurricular activities and a robust Advanced Learner Program. The curriculum enables high school students to find post-high school success. Graduation is an important time to celebrate the students' accomplishments and the opportunities that an online education can provide.

"UTVA is not just about lessons," said Stacey Hutchings, head of school of Utah Virtual Academy. "It is a community of teachers, students and parents working together to make sure that every child reaches this day and is able to walk across that stage."

UTVA junior Travis Connell is this year's Valedictorian, and he will address his fellow graduates at the ceremony. Travis  is one of a dozen 11^th graders that will be graduating early from UTVA. He plans to attend Dixie State University and complete his general studies and then transfer to Southern Utah University to study Architecture.

The 2016 Salutatorian, BreAnne Bailey, is the third child in her family to graduate from UTVA with high honors. She plans to attend Salt Lake Community College to complete her general studies and then transfer to either Brigham Young University or the University of Utah to study History.

Past UTVA graduates have gone on to attend prestigious colleges and universities such as Brigham Young University, Julliard, CUNY City College and the University of Utah.

The motivational speaker for the ceremony will be Mary Gifford, Senior Vice President of Academic Policy and External Relations at K12 Inc. A leader at K12, Ms. Gifford understands how important an education is to prepare students for the future and her speech will aim to motivate students as they take their next steps in life.

While graduates from UTVA have attended the school full time, students statewide also have the option of a part time program that allows them to add to their current schooling with additional coursework, and to access the award-winning curriculum and tools provided by K¹².  Students at UTVA are able to tailor their education to meet their personal needs, setting them up for success inside and outside of the classroom.

Media is welcome at this event. Details are as follows:

Utah Virtual Academy Graduation Ceremony
Thursday, May 26, 2016
East High School Auditorium
840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
6 p.m.

For more information on the school and upcoming enrollment events, please visit http://utva.k12.com

About Utah Virtual Academy

Utah Virtual Academy (UTVA) is an accredited, full-time online public school that serves Utah students in grades K through 12. As a part of the Utah public school system, UTVA 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. For more information about UTVA, visit http://utva.k12.com.

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SOURCE Utah Virtual Academy