RVA celebrates class of 2022

“He taught us how to take on the world and learn how to lead.”

Student speaker Magdalena Stauffer had that to say about her experiences with a teacher while attending the Rural Virtual Academy (RVA) for high school.

Stauffer was selected to be the student speaker at the graduation ceremony for the RVA held on June 3 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wausau. More than 400 people attended the event to recognize the RVA class of 2022.

This is the RVA’s fifth graduation ceremony. The virtual charter school which serves over 1,800 students across the state was started in 2005 with five school districts and Medford serving as the host school. Today, RVA includes more than 40 districts as part of its consortium and offering an on-line curriculum that focuses on relationships, values and academics.

The 130 members of the RVA class of 2022 had the option of participating in their home district graduation ceremonies or participating in the RVA ceremony. The ceremony was started with a welcome by RVA principal Sara Holewinski followed by the processional of the class of 2022. Teachers Josh Duwe and Nicole Homeyer performed the National Anthem.

Paul Dixon was the honored speaker at this year’s ceremony. He recently retired from the Medford School Board and since the RVA’s inception has served on the RVA’s governing board.

Dixon challenged the members of the class of 2022 using the metaphor of them standing at a train station with one foot on the train and one foot on the platform. He said it was up to them to decide what they would do with their lives. Dixon’s message was echoed by RVA administrator Charlie Heckel who has run the school since it was formed. “Excellence isn’t a one time thing. Excellence is a habit,” Heckel said, challenging the graduates to keep that in mind as they continued through their lives. He also highlighted the relationship aspect of RVA education noting that the educational relationship between the students and RVA staff extends beyond graduation.