Forty-five of 53 graduates from the new PACE Virtual Academy walked onstage at Portage High School Monday to receive their diplomas.
Portage Township Schools created the online school last year to serve students for whom a traditional public school setting might not be a good fit. That includes Laila Hadley, of Portage, a junior who underwent hip surgery in February. PACE allowed her to do schoolwork in the hospital, skipping a few days when she didn’t feel well enough to study.
The deadlines for coursework gave her that flexibility.
Principal Jeff King personally delivered an iPad to Hadley’s home.
Her best friend Christian Patterson, of Portage, graduated Monday after attending PACE to keep pace with her. “That way, she wouldn’t be alone,” he said.
Having the courses spread out more helped, he said. Once one course was completed, he moved on to the next one. A few times when he needed help, Patterson used the AI tutor included with the lessons.
Superintendent Amanda Alaniz and King called the graduates pioneers.
“You’re the pioneers. You are the first, and no one can ever take that distinction from you,” Alaniz said.
“You’ve earned your diplomas, but more than that, you helped establish a legacy,” she said.
“Tonight is so much more than a graduation. Tonight is history,” King told the 45 graduates who walked the stage. The remaining eight graduates couldn’t attend because of life circumstances, he said.
“There were no traditions waiting for you when you arrived here. No blueprint, no former graduates to show you the way,” King said. “You have helped shape the culture, the expectations, the spirit, the energy and the standard for every class that will follow.”
“Being first is not always easy. First means uncertainty. It means learning as you go. It means facing challenges without knowing exactly how things will turn out. But it also means courage,” he said.
“You showed up when things were unfinished. You believed in PACE Virtual Academy before anyone knew what it could become. And because of your willingness to jump in, future students will have confidence in themselves and PACE, knowing just about anything is possible because you went first.”
King said he and the school administration hoped about 50 kids in grades 9-12 would sign up for the first year. The school ended up with 295 students enrolled, including the 53 graduates.
Only 38 of those graduates began the year as seniors. Fourteen were juniors and one was a sophomore, all of them earning enough credits to earn their diplomas.
PACE Virtual Academy grew so much interest that at parents’ request, the Portage Township School Board authorized adding grades 6-8 for the second semester.
“I’m really proud that we were able to do this,” School Board President Andy Maletta said.
“Look what it means to these families,” he said with ears ringing from the hooting and hollering in the Portage High School auditorium where the commencement ceremony was held.
“The response from the families was overwhelming,” Maletta said. “You can only see it growing from here.”
“What I love about PACE Virtual is we can be a bridge or a highway for just about any circumstance,” King said. Students can use it to address temporary circumstances for a semester or two, or they can use it for their entire secondary school career.
The school has open enrollment. In its first year, it drew students from Merrillville, Gary, Hebron, Washington Township, LaPorte, Chesterton and Valparaiso, as well as Portage Township, King said.
At PACE, students take a class at a time and move on to the next class after three weeks or less. That’s easier for them than taking six or seven classes all at the same time.
Paul Patterson, of Portage, is among the first cohort of PACE graduates. He went through basic training last summer and is now an Army private first class. The school’s online structure “just pushed me right through it,” he said.
Faith Malcic, of South Haven, said PACE’s structure was definitely easier for her. “I had time to do other things,” she said, after blasting through her coursework.
Jaiana Blackmon, of Portage, said having assigned mentors was smart. “You don’t do it without a support system,” she said.
“The unknown was honestly what pushed me,” Blackmon said.
The graduates posed for a group photo of the school’s first graduating class. Each student was asked to fill out a small block of wood with their name, the year they graduated, and any inspirational message to be included on the Signatures of Success wall in the space PACE Virtual Academy occupies at Portage High School.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
