MIDWEST CITY, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA), an online public charter school authorized by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, will hold an in-person graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 19, at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Edmond.

The school-record 163 high school seniors who will graduate from OVCA benefitted from a personalized education experience in an online setting. The range of classes taught by state-certified teachers, extracurricular activities and supportive community give students of all abilities and backgrounds the chance to thrive in a learning environment that works for them. OVCA’s robust gifted and talented program challenges advanced learners, while the broad range of profession-focused courses provides students with a competitive edge.

Class of 2018 valedictorian Robert Garner IV and salutatorian Shawn Chen will address their classmates. Garner plans to attend Penn State University on a Gates Scholarship, while Chen will study computer science at Colorado School of Mines. Chen recently placed second in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings competition and was invited to perform a piano solo at Carnegie Hall.

Nicoma Park Chief of Police Edward Smith will deliver the keynote remarks to the graduating class, and OVCA teachers and staff will be in attendance to recognize the students’ achievements.

“Graduation is a day of celebration, not only for our graduates, but also for those who have helped support them on their journey to this important milestone,” said Sheryl Tatum, head of school at OVCA. “We thank the families and friends of our graduates for standing beside them through the joys, and also through the trials, of high school.”

OVCA graduates report that they have been accepted to a number of colleges and universities, including University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Rogers State University, Oklahoma Christian University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, University of Central Oklahoma, University of Hawaii, Penn State University, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Tulsa Community College, Oklahoma City Community College and Rose State College. Other students plan to enroll in technology center programs, including Francis Tuttle, Wes Watkins, Northeast, Meridian and Gordon Cooper. In addition, several others plan to join the military.

OVCA’s students have built strong relationships with their classmates during their time with the school. They interact with each other through their virtual classrooms, as well as discussion threads and instant messaging. In addition, OVCA offers many in-person activities throughout the school year, and graduation allows the students to celebrate their accomplishment together.

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

Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy Graduation Ceremony

Saturday, May 19, 2018 – 1 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Edmond

1300 East 33rd Street

Edmond, OK 73013

About Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy

Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) is an accredited, full-time online public charter school authorized by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and serving Oklahoma students in kindergarten through 12th grade. As part of the Oklahoma public school system, OVCA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation’s leading provider of K-12 proprietary curriculum and online education programs. For more information about OVCA, visit http://ovca.k12.com.

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