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Public online school graduates earn more than $3.5 million in scholarships and awards
COLUMBUS, OH — More than 480 graduating seniors from 69 counties across the state recently received their high school diplomas as members of Ohio Connections Academy’s Class of 2025. There were 285 seniors who traveled to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus on June 7th to participate in the online public charter school’s commencement ceremony.
“While we are a non-traditional school, each year we look forward to the opportunity to celebrate our graduates and this academic milestone with a very traditional ceremony,” said Ohio Connections Academy Superintendent Marie Hanna. “These students came to our school in search of a learning environment that met their individual needs. This ceremony is not only a celebration of their achievement, but of their determination to find an academic setting where they could succeed.”
More than 35 percent of Ohio Connections Academy graduates indicated they plan to attend a two or four-year college or university including, Indiana University, Ithaca College, The Juilliard School, Miami University, The Ohio State University, Stanford University and the University of Georgia. Additionally, 45 percent of graduates plan to enter the workforce directly upon graduation, while others plan to receive vocational training, join the military or take a gap year.
Among Ohio Connections Academy’s Class of 2025, there is a National Merit Commended Scholar, a College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award Winner, two College Board National African American Recognition Award winners and 23 Governor’s Merit Scholarship winners. Several of the graduates have earned full-tuition academic and performing arts scholarships. Several others have earned NCAA athletic scholarships. Overall, the Class of 2025 has received more than $3.5 million dollars in college scholarships and awards.
The following students from Darke County are among Ohio Connections Academy’s Class of 2025*:
- Sophia Claudy, Pitsburg
- Skyler Morgan, Greenville
The Class of 2025 is the 17th graduating class for the tuition-free virtual school for students in grades K–12. Ohio Connections Academy serves more than 4,800 students across the state and offers a high-quality curriculum taught by state-certified teachers who specialize in virtual education, fostering meaningful connections and a supportive learning environment.
The 2025-26 academic year will mark the Ohio Connections Academy’s second year of its successful College and Career Readiness offering for middle and high school students. Building on last year’s foundation, this refined offering integrates traditional academic subjects with industry-leading, career-focused options like IT, business, health sciences and marketing. This program equips students with durable skills like leadership, critical thinking and teamwork. Students can participate in career exploration and industry networking opportunities to build confidence, make connections and find direction to prepare for their future.
Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is open and the school is hosting online information sessions for families interested in learning more about virtual education. For more information about Ohio Connections Academy or to begin the enrollment process, visit www.OhioConnectionsAcademy.com or call 1-833-591-0251.
