A fifth grader from Arizona Virtual Academy earned Second Place in digital art at the national competition hosted by K12 Online Schools. Competing against more than 6,000 student entries nationwide, Liliana was recognized for her creativity and received a cash prize or Amazon gift card, highlighting the artistic talent of virtual school students.
At Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, an esports program uses competitive gaming like League of Legends and Rocket League to build teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. Students balance academics with structured team play similar to traditional sports. The program has helped students grow in confidence and engagement, including quieter students who became leaders. Supporters say esports develops real-world skills and can lead to careers in gaming, technology, and related fields.
Nikki Snow, a teacher at Indiana Gateway Digital Academy, co-authored a new book with her daughter Savannah, a sophomore at the same school, called “Finley the Fox and Her Fluttery Feelings.” The children’s book explores anxiety and mental health through storytelling. The pair said the school’s flexible online model helped them collaborate on the project. The story follows a fox learning to manage anxiety with support from friends, aiming to help children better understand and talk about emotions.
At 14, Leelan Gold of Centreville, a student at Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan, is close to becoming an Eagle Scout—an achievement only about 4% reach. He has earned 52 merit badges in three years and only needs to complete his Eagle Project, building about 100 birdhouses honoring veterans. Motivated by service and supported by flexible virtual schooling, he also pursues cybersecurity and programming and hopes to inspire others facing medical challenges.