June 8, 2018 – The FCSA has been featuring public charter school graduates all month. This week’s grads are a special bunch…from students overcoming obstacles with the help with the faculty at EdVenture Charter to seniors simultaneously earning a high school diploma and 2-year college degree. Thank you to our member schools who sent us these great photos.
City of Hialeah Educational Academy (COHEA) students earned a 2-year college degree from Doral College just before their high school graduation. Pictured (let to right): Doral College president State Representative Manny Diaz Jr, COHEA students: Yovanis Calderon, Idael Ortiz, Christian Gutierrez, Ms. Puente (COHEA assistant principal and Carlos Alvarez (COHEA principal). Yovanis will attend Nova Southeastern University in the fall on a Bright Futures scholarship and Nova Dean Scholarship; Idael will attend St. Thomas University, and Christian will attend Florida International University.
Jazmin Torres has attended Miami Community Charter since she was a kindergartener. Now a senior, Jazmin was named a #BurgerKingScholars recipient and plans to attend college after graduation.
International Studies Charter High School senior and #PosseScholar Stella Garcia has been accepted to Mt. Holyoke College. Through the Posse Organization, Stella will attend her college tuition-free and has been tapped as the head of a Service Initiative through Posse that will bring awareness to women’s issues via a local art display.
Edventure Charter, a program for school aged youth who face emotional and learning challenges, held its 20th graduation last week. The 14 seniors “dodged life’s curve balls and never let anything stop them,” said Barbara Fitz, EdVenture founder, at the ceremony where each graduate received a personalized and touching introduction by a faculty or staff member. 
Through heartfelt stories, EdVenture team members described students with a passion for learning, whose fearlessness and determination helped them overcome adversity. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. “EdVenture gives students for a second chance to finish school and learn job skills,” says Juliana Alexander (pictured). She will begin an internship program in the summer and attend college.
Last week, The Chiles Academy bid farewell to their 16th graduating class. Click here to watch a video about their exceptional program that not only helps young mothers finish high school but also provides them and their families with critical support.
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