Class of 2026: Celebrating Our Seniors and Their Bright Futures 

As we prepare to close out another incredible academic year, the Arkansas Virtual Academy (ARVA) community is buzzing with excitement. Soon, the Class of 2026 will walk across the stage and carry with them the passion, skills, and motivation to pursue the next step of their journeys.  

As they look back on the intentional choices they made for their futures, we are honored to celebrate a graduating class of 694 seniors who have truly embraced the opportunities provided by the flexibility and diversity of a K-12-powered education: 

• Nine career center students have completed 74 dual enrollment college credits. 

• 285 students have earned industry-recognized certifications. 

• 267 students are graduating with job offers 

• Eight students have earned associate’s degrees. 

• Five students will be entering military service shortly after graduation. 

While these numbers tell a story of collective success, the individual paths to this stage are just as inspiring.  

Pursuing Passions with Purpose 

For many of our graduates, ARVA’s Flex program provided the structure needed to balance high-level pursuits outside of school with our rigorous academic standards. Chloe, a senior from Conway and a multiple-time Junior Olympic qualifier, used this flexibility to win the Arkansas CMP 3×20 Air Rifle Match two years running. Her dedication recently culminated in signing with the Georgia Southern University air rifle team, where she plans to major in Exercise Science. 

Similarly, Jabari of Forrest City balanced a 3.8 GPA with Class 4A basketball. By taking advantage of ARVA’s NCAA-approved courses, Jabari stayed on track for college eligibility while managing health challenges that required aquatic therapy during traditional school hours. For students like Chloe and Jabari, having a school that moves with them has made all the difference. 

Innovation and Early Success 

Our seniors have consistently proven that online learning is highly collaborative, often taking their skills to state and national stages. Little Rock senior Tonie and her teammate Ashley, a sophomore this year, combined their artistic and programming talents to create “Groovy Planet,” a retro-style video game that qualified for the National TSA Conference in Maryland this June.  

In the business world, several of our FBLA students recently competed at the State Leadership Conference in Little Rock. We are thrilled to recognize the hard work of all our students, especially senior Alyssa, of Ozone, who earned a second-place finish in Computer Problem Solving and secured her spot at the national competition in San Antonio this summer. 

Many in the Class of 2026 are also jumping ahead in their professional and academic journeys. Evan of Hartman, who is legally blind, is one of the eight seniors graduating with an associate’s degree. He was also named on the 2026 Arkansas Times’ Academic All-Star Team, along with another one of our seniors, Aubrey. Through his “Braille Bites” project, Evan has created 53 Braille menus for local restaurants to ensure others have the independence to order their own meals. Since being featured across local stations such as KARK and nationally with NBC News, Evan’s mission to expand accessibility continues to grow, having since received upwards of 60 additional menu requests. 

We are also thrilled to celebrate Addison of Cabot, who earned the prestigious QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. After seeking a supportive environment where she could focus on her goals, Addison is now heading to Skidmore College this fall on a full, four-year scholarship to study forensic psychology. 

Building a Career-Ready Future 

Through ARVA’s Career and College Prep program, our seniors have had opportunities to explore their passions through hands-on experience and specialized pathways. With the help of Career Technical Education (CTE) Administrator Lisa Short, Malaki of Stuttgart discovered a new career passion for the trades and gained real-world skills through a pre-apprenticeship with Staley Electric. 

For Leah of Star City, ARVA offered the one-on-one teacher support she needed to thrive while navigating dyslexia and autism. As a SkillsUSA officer with a healthcare certification, she is now prepared to enter nursing school at the University of Arkansas-Monticello.  

Beyond learning and creating memories alongside their peers, giving back to the student community is also a central theme for this class. Samiyyah of Little Rock saw incredible value in the BigFuture Ambassador program, which allowed her to represent ARVA on a national level. Motivated by the resources that helped her stay organized, Samiyyah is looking forward to helping other students plan for life after graduation, using the program’s tools to support her peers as they explore their own future options. 

Congratulations, Class of 2026 

At ARVA, we believe education should be as unique as the student. Whether they are heading to a university, entering the military, joining the workforce, or pursuing a trade, our seniors have shown that they are ready for whatever comes next. We are so proud of the resilience and creativity they have shown throughout their time as ARVA students. We can’t wait to celebrate with this year’s class on graduation day! 

Ready to Find Your Path? 

Whether your student is looking to pursue extracurricular goals, CTE education, AP and honors courses, or needs credit recovery assistance, ARVA’s curriculum and flexible learning environment provide opportunities for growth for a multitude of students and their diverse pathways. If you’d like to see what ARVA could do for your student, check out ARVA’s Enrollment page for more information, and register for the 2026–27 school year today. We’d love to help your student shine! 

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