NH’s Virtual High School Makes History with Graduating Class of 2010

Most Graduates Will Attend College in the Fall

Exeter, N.H. – Twelve high school students made history this year when they became the first graduates of New Hampshire’s only online high school – The Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLACS). The Academy’s Class of 2010 graduates are: Julianne Chaloux of Dover; Amanda Dargy of Gilford; Kelsey Emry of Hampstead; Lauren Frank of Lancaster; Ashley McDonough of Sanbornville; Sean McKenna of Moultonborough; Chloe McKeon of West Chesterfield; Taylor Murray of Exeter; Amber Parshley of Newmarket; Jonathan Thomas of Northfield; Joshua Tubbs of Sandown; and Taylor Wilmot of Nashua. Ten of the 12 graduates will attend college in the fall.

The Virtual Learning Academy operates similar to a traditional high school, except college prep, honors and advanced placement classes are taught through the internet by certified and highly qualified teachers. Since its inception in 2008, the Academy expanded its curriculum from high school courses to include elementary and middle school studies. Today, the Academy boasts more than 8,000 enrollments and 64 courses for elementary, middle school and high school students. The Academy also offers dual-credit courses that allow high school students to earn credit for both high school and college studies.

The Virtual Academy’s first graduating class achieved impressive results. Chaloux, Emry, Parshley and Tubbs graduated as New Hampshire Scholars. This honor recognizes students who complete at least three years of college prep or honors classes in Math, Science and English.

In addition, four Academy graduates – Chaloux, Frank, Murray and Parshley – earned prestigious scholarships. Chaloux received the Harold F. Johnson Scholarship, Frank received

the NH Charitable Foundation Scholarship, Murray received the Culinary Institute of America Skills USA Scholarship and Parshley received the Sam Walton Community Scholarship, the Newmarket Conservation Commission Scholarship and the Shaw’s Supermarket Scholarship.

“When the Virtual Learning Academy was established in 2008, we started with an ambitious goal and a blank slate,” said Steve Kossakoski, Ph.D., CEO of the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School. “In just two-and-a-half years, our staff and program has positively influenced thousands of students throughout the state, and we are committed to building our success stories one student at a time.”

For Murray and McKenna, the Academy’s 24/7 accessibility and independent study program were valuable benefits that enabled them to pursue their professional dreams while they completed a rigorous high school education. As a full-time student, Murray started her own Exeter-based business, “Taylor Made Meals”, which creates and delivers personalized meals. This fall she plans to continue her education at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. McKenna of Moultonborough started a landscaping business while attending VLACS.

The “green” learning experience of the Virtual Learning Academy influenced Parshley’s decision to major in Human Ecology at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine.

“An online course is definitely the ‘green’ way to learn,” Parshley said. “Because I've been taking classes online with VLACS, I've been putting less carbon in the atmosphere by not having to drive to a physical school building. In addition, taking classes online causes teachers and students to use much, much less paper than they would use otherwise.”

Like Parshley, most graduates plan to attend college in the fall. Emry of Hampstead, will study Biology at Roger Williams College in Rhode Island and plans to enroll in medical school.

The Academy’s graduates received acceptance letters from an impressive list of colleges and universities, such as: Bard College, Colby-Sawyer College, College of the Atlantic, Champlain College, Culinary Institute of America, Hampshire College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Johnson & Wales University, Juniata College, Keene State College, Marlboro College, Mount

Holyoke College, Pepperdine University, Quinnipiac University, Roger Williams University, Saint Michael’s College, Salve Regina University, University of Maine, University of Massachusetts – Amherst, University of New Hampshire and University of New Haven.

“I know that I’m ready for what college brings,” said Parshley. “Having taken my courses at VLACS for the past two years has required tons on self-motivation.”

For more information about the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, please visit its web site at www.vlacs.org.

About the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School: The Virtual Learning Academy Charter School uses the latest internet technologies to provide NH’s high school students any time, any where access to a rigorous, personalized education that helps them learn today, graduate tomorrow and prepare for the future. The Virtual Learning Academy Charter School is a non-profit organization approved by the New Hampshire Board of Education and governed by an independent Board of Trustees. The Academy is tuition free for students who live in New Hampshire. Non-resident students may attend the school on a tuition basis.