COLUMBIA, SC – On Wednesday, March 27, students and leadership from Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina (HVASC) attended the JAG-SC Career Development Conference and were recognized for their many achievements within the program.
Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based nonprofit that serves youth who face significant challenges, with the goal of helping them reach economic and academic success. Over 33 participating South Carolina high schools attended the conference, where they participated in competitive events, attended breakout sessions, networked, and more.
Out of the students from 33 schools, HVASC tenth-grader Brianna Cook was the single recipient of the Governor’s award – an award that recognizes a student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and commitment through JAG.
HVASC also took home additional awards relating to different categories of work that students entered prior to the conference. HVASC’s recognitions included the following:
• 2nd Place in Themed Essay category – Brianna Cook, 10th Grade
• Honorable Mention in Themed Poster Category – Elizabeth Gilmore, 10th Grade
• HVASC Representation in the Themed Poetry Category – David Northcut, 12th Grade
• HVASC Representation in the Career Preparation Category – David Northcut, 12th Grade
• HVASC Representation in the Financial Literacy Category – Onesti Jackson, 9th Grade
Finally, the HVASC team also placed second in the Knowledge Bowl, a trivia-inspired competition that featured JAG, business, and industry-related questions.
“This team of students has worked hard, and it’s exciting to see them be recognized,” said Principal Ms. Sandy Burris. “Heron serves many students who need an alternative pathway to graduation and a career, and they all have one thing in common- they’re motivated to prepare for a successful future.”
HVASC opened in Fall 2023 as an Alternative Education Campus for students across the state in grades 9-12. HVASC is the only virtual alternative education campus in the state of South Carolina, and it is authorized by the Charter Institute at Erskine.
Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina is a tuition-free, online public school that is dedicated to helping high school students via personalized alternative pathways to graduation. It has four defining characteristics – a focus on personalized education through its virtual model, comprehensive career-readiness education offerings, a robust Social Emotional Learning component, and provision for student feedback and suggestions. To learn more about HVASC, visit their website: https://hvasc.k12.com/.
