AUGUSTA, Maine — In one of the state’s more unusual high school graduation ceremonies this month, all five members of the first graduating class of Maine Connections Academy received their diplomas.
Maine Connections Academy, the first virtual charter school in Maine, closed out its inaugural year on Tuesday with its first graduation ceremony at the Maine Principals’ Association headquarters in Augusta. About 50 people, including teachers, family and friends, attended the event.
The Class of 2015 includes Spencer William Deissler, 17, of Lebanon; Madison C. Dexter, 18, of Portland; Serena Billie-Jo Gorham, 17, of Lyman; Dakota Rae Pettegrow, 17, of Benedicta; and Shaynah-Cherokeigh Raylene Seames, 18, of Bethel.
No valedictorian or salutatorian were named. The class was too small, school officials said.
All four girls in the class attended the ceremony, wearing black mortarboard caps and gowns and braided golden cords around their necks signifying their better-than-3.0 grade point averages. Deissler could not attend, as his brother was scheduled for military deployment.
Gorham transferred to Maine Connections Academy from her local school because she and her parents didn’t like the quality of education she was getting at her home district. At first, they tried homeschool, but it didn’t work out because her parents worked full time.
“It’s awesome to be part of something that’s hopefully going to grow,” Gorham said after getting her diploma.
She said she wants to be a teacher and plans to attend Plymouth State University in New Hampshire to study music education.
“I want to be sure each student has their talents shown and isn’t hidden in a big classroom,” she said.
Seames transferred to Maine Connections Academy in January, rushing to complete the 17 classes she needed to graduate. She had been in homeschool, which she started after struggling in public school, but decided along with her family that it would be more valuable to earn a diploma from an accredited high school.
She said she enjoyed the freedom of being able to do schoolwork on her own schedule. She sometimes went hunting or ice fishing in the mornings, returning to do schoolwork at night. She plans on attending the University of Maine at Augusta and hopes to become a game warden.
The four girls say they’re going on to college. Deissler plans on entering the military.
Virtual school — learning via computer — doesn’t work for all students, according to administrators and teachers. Some might struggle with the self-motivation needed to succeed without a set classroom schedule. Others might miss daily interaction with their friends and classmates.
Several of Maine Connections Academy’s teachers spoke at the event, sharing stories about each graduate and their hopes for the future.
Things likely won’t be quite as personal next year.
Karl Francis, principal at the virtual school, said after the ceremony that the Class of 2016 is expected to be about 10 times the size of its predecessor.
In its inaugural year, Maine Connections Academy enrolled about 270 students from across the state. Next year, it expects to teach just under 400.
“Enrollment is strong, interest is strong,” Francis said. “We’re excited about the growth.”
Maine Connections Academy’s first year of operation as the only virtual school in Maine also will be its last. Maine Virtual Academy is scheduled to open at the beginning of next school year with about 300 students.
“Hopefully, others will follow in our footsteps,” Seames said, after a less-than-dramatic celebratory tossing of four graduation caps.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.