Colorado Connections Academy Class Of 2024 Earns More Than $1 Million In Scholarships And Awards
Network of full-time, tuition-free online public schools celebrates more than 320 graduates from across the state with graduation ceremony at the University of Denver’s Magness Arena on May 29
Englewood, Colo. (May 29, 2024) – Students and families from across the state are invited to the University of Denver’s Magness Arena on May 29 at 1 p.m. to celebrate Colorado Connections Academy’s Class of 2024. With Colorado Connections Academy’s tuition-free online education offered statewide, graduates from across the state will be recognized for their hard work, determination, and academic accomplishments.
This year’s traditional graduation ceremony will spotlight insight from speakers including Colorado Connections Academy school leader Shannon Cox, secondary principal Amy Davis, the Class of 2024's Valedictorian Sylvia Williamson and Salutatorian Arianna Harrison. There will also be student performances by 2024 graduates Vedanti Underwood, Madison Korniotes, and Gracie LaGue.
“We truly enjoy celebrating our graduates as they embark on their new chapters. At Colorado Connections Academy, we strive to make sure that our students are not only academically prepared to take on the world but also make them lifelong learners, critical thinkers and compassionate leaders,” said Cox. “We cannot wait to see the incredible impact our graduates will make as they set forward on their new path,” she added.
Colorado Connections Academy’s graduating class has a wide variety of post-graduation plans. Among these plans, 35 percent will attend a 2- or 4-year college, 20 percent are entering the workforce, 12 percent will pursue vocational training, and others are choosing to enter the military or take a gap year. The Class of 2024 also earned more than $1 million in scholarships and awards to colleges across the country.
There are three Colorado Connections Academy schools operating in the state and each has a Valedictorian and Salutatorian. The Class of 2024 includes:
- Finoa Milliken, Valedictorian – Colorado Connections Academy @ 27J
- Sylvia Williamsen, Valedictorian – Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango
- Lolo Inglesias, Valedictorian – Colorado Summit Connections Academy
- Lebbonye Bates, Salutatorian – Colorado Connections Academy @27J
- Arianna Harrison, Salutatorian – Colorado Connections Academy @Durango
- Brodie Johnson, Salutatorian – Colorado Summit Connections Academy
“Being a student at Colorado Connections Academy allowed me to learn independence, and it was nice to have teachers who helped me along the way. My education at the school showed me that they really prioritize each student. I enjoyed the time I had to complete my own assignments,” said Arianna Harrison, a 2024 Salutatorian who will be speaking at this year’s ceremony.
Arianna came to Colorado Connections Academy during the pandemic for her freshman year and found it was a much better educational fit. “Online school allowed me to work and prioritize training with soccer,” she added. Arianna has played soccer for 14 years and competed with her local high school and club teams. She received a scholarship to play soccer at Iowa Western Community College for two years, and the school has the best D1 transfer rate. Arianna would like to pursue a career in science, particularly neuroscience. She has struggled with migraines and wants to help others in that field. She also sees herself going into trauma surgery, orthopedics, or medical research, and plans to get a degree in Biology and then pursue a pre-med program.
Colorado Connections Academy schools offer a high level of individualized attention, which helps students stay on the right track and get the extra support they need when needed. Colorado Connections Academy students are diverse and come from different backgrounds and educational histories. Some students are academically advanced and struggle in a traditional school setting, while some prefer to learn at their own pace. Other students may be experiencing health challenges or bullying, while others are athletes or performers who require a flexible learning schedule.
“Going to school at Colorado Connections Academy provides more of a real-life example. When you go to school in person, you are given a daily structure with no other choice. My online teachers taught me to take responsibility for my actions and learn how the real world really works. You learn to give yourself the time to do your schoolwork, which is a very good tool to help with flexibility, and learn accountability before entering the real world,” said 2024 graduate Nicholas Konecny.
Nicholas is a competitive mountain biker. He started racing when he was nine years old and currently rides with the Bear National Team, which is based in California with riders across the U.S. and is sponsored by Trek. He has trained and competed globally, including six weeks in Girona, Spain. He competed in Nové Město, Czech Republic for the United Cyclists International World Cup. His dream career is to become a full-time professional racer and make it on a factory team. He'd also like to pursue a career in the medical field.
Colorado Connections Academy schools serve nearly 3,000 students in grades K-12 across Colorado. Colorado Connections Academy’s state-certified teachers work hard to foster meaningful connections by providing individualized student attention and a positive, engaging learning environment. Students have regular opportunities to share ideas, compare experiences, and have fun learning with their peers through online classroom sessions.
Enrollment is currently open for the 2024-25 school year. Families interested in Colorado Connections Academy schools are encouraged to attend an online information session to learn more, ask questions, and discover if virtual school is the right fit for their students. To learn more about the school or begin enrollment, please visit Colorado Connections Academy or call 1-833-591-0251.
About Colorado Connections Academy
Colorado Connections Academy schools are tuition-free, high-quality, highly accountable public online schools serving students in grades K-12 statewide. Colorado Connections Academy schools provide students with a safe, supportive learning environment and the flexibility to learn from anywhere with an Internet connection. The combination of Colorado-certified teachers, an award-winning curriculum, personalized instruction, technology tools, and socialization experiences offers families and children an individualized approach to education. For more information, call 1-833-591-0251 or visit Colorado Connections Academy.