The K-12 online public school MTS Minnesota Connections Academy's (MTSMCA) celebrated its 2013 graduating senior class during a traditional ceremony Saturday, June 15 at Wayzata Central Middle School in Plymouth, Minn. Seventy-nine students from across the state successfully completed MTSMCA’s state approved curriculum and met the Minnesota Department of Education standard of graduation. Post graduation, Faribault's Lizsandra Garcia, who spoke on behalf of her senior class and created a senior slideshow for the event, is looking to study Early Childhood Education and then nursing.
Many of the graduates chose Connections Academy for its individualized learning approach, which allows students freedom and flexibility rarely found in traditional brick and mortar schools. The online approach also works well for students pursuing athletic or creative talents, those who learn at a different pace from their peers, students who need a learning environment outside of the traditional classroom, those with additional family responsibilities and those with health issues. Homebound and previously home-schooled students also thrive in the program.
“Like any school community, we are thrilled for and proud of our graduates,” said Melissa Gould, Principal, MTS Minnesota Connections Academy. “They have worked very hard during the past several years—a number of them while balancing time-intensive, extra-curricular commitments. Many of our graduates are headed to the college of their choice in the fall and we can’t help but be proud that they’ve chosen us to help them prepare for their next great challenge, whether it is academic, athletic or life-based.”
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Members of the 2013 graduating class are scheduled to attend colleges such as Hamline University, St Catherine University, Northwestern College, University of Minnesota, University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, University of Wisconsin – Stout and Arizona State University. During the past school year, MTSMCA provided curriculum and support to more than 1,500 students. Enrollment for the 2013-2014 school year is underway and is available to any K-12 student in Minnesota.