Diverse class of 09 pursuing Africa, MIT, biology
PA Cyber graduate Abdullah Abdullah of Philadelphia receives his diploma from CEO Dr. Nick Trombetta
Diverse plans of PA Cyber Class of 2009 include Africa, MIT, cellular biology
Midland, Pa. — Whether they’re embarking on a two-year mission trip to Africa or heading to MIT to study science, the 917 graduates of the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School Class of 2009 are pursuing careers and callings as diverse as the students themselves.
The one thing alike about these students, from the classical harpist to the woodworker, is that they chose online education.
Abdullah, who walked with his fellow classmates at the eastern commencement ceremony June 11 in Harrisburg, will attend Rutgers University this fall to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Zuzak, who received her diploma at the western graduation ceremony June 6 in Pittsburgh, plans to go to college but has yet to choose a school or major.
Others:
-Matthew Keene of Barto, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA, plans on attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study science.
-James Clement of Springboro will participate in a two-year mission trip to Africa through the Africa Inlands Missions program.
-Rachel Bane of McKeesport was awarded a $5,000 World Ready Woman Scholarship as well as a Chatham University Trustees Merit Scholarship for $9,000; she will attend Chatham University in the fall to major in business administration.
-Alecia Wenslow of Albion, a classical guitarist, finished high school early and is already enrolled in Edinboro University to study music; beginning this fall, she will perform with the Edinboro Guitar Ensemble.
-Ann Freeman of Beaver has been accepted to the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering on a full tuition and engineering honors scholarship.
Andrew Oberg, director of PA Cyber, spoke of the future of online education, and told graduates that they are the new wave of education in America. He also encouraged the many graduates whose future plans involve education to consider coming back and working for their alma mater. “For many of you, today was the first time that you saw me and it’s probably going to be the last. But for those who have plans to go into education, maybe it won’t be the last. Maybe we’ll welcome you back as a teacher one day.”
Among those students planning to study education in college:
-Jessica Hartman of Spring Grove will study elementary Eeucation at Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia.
-Valerie Parry of Finleyville will attend California University of Pennsylvania to study early childhood and elementary education.
-Kyle Barger of Knox has been accepted to Clarion College to major in Library Science and minor in early childhood and special education.
-And Anneke Verlinde of State College will work toward a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and spanish at Geneva College.
For most of our graduates, the ceremony was their first chance to meet anyone they went to school with, from teachers and administrators to fellow classmates. But for a handful of students, they were lucky enough to have a sibling along for their journey. This year, PA Cyber graduated four sets of twins. And while their time with PA Cyber was a success, that’s where the similarities end.
-Timothy Rabe of Murraysville has been accepted to Cedarville College in Ohio to study chemistry in preparation for medical school. His brother Benjamin, on the other hand, is one of four ballet dancers hired by the Rochester City Ballet Company in New York for the 2009-10 season.
-Kristina Arcuri of Canonsburg plans on attending the Community College of Allegheny County to major in child care, while her brother Matthew plans to study auto mechanics.
-Megan Garry of Peters Township will enroll in paralegal studies at the Community College of Allegheny County this fall; meanwhile her sister, Rebecca will be attending for graphic design.
-And Jasmine and Kendra Sloat of Lancaster will both enroll at Harrisburg Area Community College this fall. Jasmine will study psychology; Kendra will major in art.
Instead of heading for college campuses, other PA Cyber graduates are going straight to work, heading for foreign shores, entering training programs or launching performing arts careers.
-Adam Klutinoty of Butler has just finished producing a new music CD.
-Anna Trimarchi of Ford Cliff will be studying with the Gettysburg Master’s Commission to become a youth pastor.
-Samantha Schwartz of Scranton is leaving for Israel in September and will be there for 10 months, volunteering and teaching basketball to underprivileged children.
-Katie Kercher of Kutztown will pursue a professional singing career through an internship with Walt Disney Studios.
-Rebekah Hostetter of Harrisburg has accepted a traineeship with the San Francisco Ballet.
-James Redmond of Littlestown will put his hands to good use, attending the Touchstone Healing Arts Massage School to study eastern body work.
-Kyle Smithgall of Duncannon will begin working for his family’s excavating business.
-And Victor Dotson of Stroudsburg will continue working as an EMT while completing work in the paramedic program at Luzerne County Community College.
And still others are pursuing the careers and educations that this country was built on. They’re choosing to study for the future or pursue a career defending the freedoms that allowed them to chose online education in the first place, said Dr. Trombetta.
-William McCormack of New Salem has joined the Army National Guard and will be a member of ROTC at California University of Pennsylvania.
-Jordan Jenkins of Ambridge will study game art and design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
-Sean Kleckner of Dillsburg will attend Geneva College this fall to study civil engineering while also playing on the men’s soccer team.
-Amanda Bilitski of Roscoe will be studying cellular and molecular biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
-Levi Mitchell of Montrose will pursue a bachelor’s degree in natural gas technology at Lackawana College.
J-ackie Coyle of Drexel Hill is a new member of the National Guard and will pursue a career in chemical operations.
-Matthew Maciejczak of Sweet Valley is enrolling in the local police academy.
-Dylan Gitner of East Berlin will study economics abroad in Japan through Temple University.
-Jenna Kessler of Barto will attend Slippery Rock University to major in environmental geo-science.
-And Shawn Novak of Newell will be an armored crewman in the United States Army.
“Your hope is our hope. And your wishes are our wishes. And your prayers are our prayers,” said Dr. Trombetta. “We want and expect the best for you and of you. And I hope that you take the time to recognize that this is your new beginning. This is your new life and it begins today.”
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