Student Success Stories
Lisa is a bright, fun-loving 16-year-old. She also suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which interferes with her body’s ability to adjust to gravity. As a result of the condition, she experiences excruciating headaches and is dizzy much of the time. In 9th grade the condition became so severe, she had to stop going to school.
After extensive research, Lisa and her mom chose Keystone to continue Lisa’s education. “Keystone is very flexible, which is what I needed.” Lisa said. “I love it.” Through Keystone, Lisa is able to take honors classes along with electives like music appreciation and digital video production.
Lisa likes the independence that Keystone offers. She can now go as fast – or slow – as she needs to learn the materials and prepare for written assignments and tests. Working closely with Keystone teachers, Lisa is well on her way to finishing high school. “If I do have a question, I can email or call my teacher. They’re very easy to talk to.”
Isadora Bickham knows how to hit a tennis ball. An accomplished tennis athlete from Louisiana, Isadora has had a racket in hand since she was seven years old. But she and her parents weren’t sure of the best way to juggle her demanding tournament schedule with a good education. Then they found out about Keystone. Through Keystone’s online program Isadora was able to get in her two to three hours a day of tennis training – and stay ahead academically.
Keystone gave Isadora the flexibility she needs, allowing her to enroll in both Keystone and her local high school. Through this dual enrollment she was able to keep up with her friends and reach her ultimate goal: receiving a tennis and academic scholarship to Centenary College. “One of my goals when I started tennis was to be able to get a college scholarship,” Isadora said. Keystone truly helped keep Isadora at the top of her game.
A teen beauty contestant, Jasmine Alexis had a demanding schedule of preparing for and traveling to pageants. She needed a high school program that could fit into her lifestyle, yet offer the academic rigor to ensure she could reach the later dreams of her life. Keystone was the perfect solution.
Jasmine was crowned Miss District of Columbia Teen USA in May of 2008 where her Latin ballroom dancing skills helped secure the title as well as a spot in the top 10 of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant. In addition to being the only African American, Jasmine was also the first teen from the DC area to hold titles in both the Miss Teen USA and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant systems.
Jasmine is equally ambitious about her academic achievements. After graduating from Keystone’s online school, she enrolled in Concordia University in Bronxville, NY. As she prepared to pass the crown on to the next winner, Jasmine mused about where life was taking her. “I kind of view my reign ending as the closing of one chapter and the opening of the next.” Keystone was glad to be a part of her storybook high school life.
KATHERINE MCNAMARA (Full Profile)
Katherine has been out of school – and on stage – since 1st grade and has brought a shining light to her hometown of Lee’s Summit, MO. Now in the 9th grade, Katherine has been in many theater productions and has just ventured into the world of film, including recent releases “Sam Steele” and “Match Maker Mary.”
Odds are you won’t find Shannon at a mall in the afternoons loafing the halls with friends. Instead, you’ll find her practicing plies and jettes with the Tallahassee Ballet Company. The company keeps Shannon on the road – and away from the traditional schoolhouse environment.
Shannon needed a school that could adapt to her unusual lifestyle, and Keystone turned out to be the perfect dancing partner. Keystone offered the academic challenges she wanted, yet the flexibility to work around her schedule. She particularly enjoys interacting with other students and teachers through the virtual Keystone campus.
Victoria dreams of a career as an ice dancer and practices more than three hours a day to reach this pinnacle. She has access to a world most teens only dream of, including training with two-time silver medalist Matthew Gates.
But the reality of getting a good education was a hurdle she wasn’t sure how to overcome. Keystone turned out to be the perfect match. “I can do my work anywhere I am,” Victoria said. “And I can move at my own pace, as fast or as slow as I need to be. I’m always busy, so I need that flexibility.”
Victoria’s mother is proud of her daughter and is thrilled at the opportunities that ice dancing – and Keystone – have created for her. “Victoria wants to go after her dreams, and I admire her for that.”
MICHAEL WENGER (Full Profile)
Michael likes to travel. So when the opportunity to travel with his older brother in South America, it was one he couldn’t pass up. Fortunately, Keystone was the ticket for getting a first-rate education – and backpacking through Argentina and Chile. “I was able to travel and still complete my school assignments,” said Michael.
Michael was hooked. Keystone afforded him the flexibility to then visit his sister in England as well as pursuing his lifelong dream of training for marathons. At the same time, he enjoyed a much richer education than he ever imagined possible. “I was excited to find hundreds of different classes to choose from and to learn that school could actually be fun.”
Michael is grateful for the life-long skills Keystone has taught him. Graduating with straight A’s, Michael learned how to stay self-motivated and follow through on goals. He also appreciated the teachers who gave him “honest feedback and fair notes, which in the end, helps you grow as a person.”
Through his high school years, Karl and his family moved from Virginia to Washington, D.C., to New Mexico and back to North Carolina, following the path of his father's career as an officer in the Army. But thanks to Keystone, Karl’s education never changed course. "With Keystone, I was able to receive an excellent education without interruption," Karl said.
In fact, Karl had the chance to excel at his studies and even graduated early with a 4.0 grade average. Karl embraced the independence and self-mastery that Keystone fostered. "Keystone gave me the freedom to move ahead," he said. "I was able to accomplish more than I could have any other way." Karl also appreciated the support and guidance his Keystone teachers gave him through telephone, email, and online chat.
Karl is now enrolled at Campbell University and is studying to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree and possibly a master's in business administration. "I believe that, thanks to Keystone National High School, I will succeed.”
