--- title: Blog - Acceleration Academies | Student Stories (5) description: Student Stories | Stories and insights from Acceleration Acedmies (5) --- [![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo.png) ![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo-footer.png)](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/) - The Program « Back - [High School Completion](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/high-school-completion/) - [Our Flexible Approach](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/our-flexible-approach/) - [Personalized Teaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/personalized-teaching/) - [Career Coaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/career-coaching/) - [Meet Our Graduates](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/ourgraduates/) - 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[Bethel](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/washington/bethel/) - About Us « Back - [Our Accreditation](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-accreditation/) - [Our Team](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-team/) - [News](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/news/) - [Blog](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/blog/) - [Pathways Magazine](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/pathways-magazine?hsLang=en) - [Become a Partner](https://altedpathways.org/) - [Careers](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/about-us/careers/) - [Contact Us](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/contact-us/) - [Events](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/events/) - [Login](https://studentinnovate.educationincites.com/#/client/myincite) - Search [Get Info](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/request-info?hsLang=en) [Enroll](http://accelerationacademies.org/enroll) Menu  Search Close Search Form Close Menu Our Blog ## The Stories & Insights That Matter Filter by category Student Stories Florida Alternative Education Meet Our Graduates Graduations South Carolina Charter Schools Miami-Dade Sarasota Going Back to High School Staff Perspectives 10 Years of Acceleration Academies Ector Personalized Learning Texas Georgia Academies News & Events Academies in Action Career and Technical Ed Gwinnett County (GA) St. Lucie Bethel (WA) Location Clark County (NV) GED vs Diploma High School Diploma CTE Data in Education Dropout Recovery Nevada value of a high school diploma Washington Alumni Broward County (FL) Duval County Escambia County Marion County Myrtle Beach/Conway (SC) Student Mental Health Lee County Online High School Santa Rosa County (FL) School Choice Technology California Cincinnati (Oh) DeKalb County (GA) Enrollment Help Hillsborough County (FL) Insider Los Angeles My Acceleration Academies Story National School Choice Week Ohio Partnerships Wichita, KS [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/BAA-Kemani-Hurd-.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/success-story-bethel-grad-kemani-hurds-journey-to-graduation) Student Stories ## [Success Story: Bethel Grad Kemani Hurd's Journey to Graduation](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/success-story-bethel-grad-kemani-hurds-journey-to-graduation) April 10, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Kemani Hurd tried both online and in-person high schools, but he couldn’t seem to hit his stride. Trying to master physics during his junior year, he would go after school for extra help but found himself in a crowded classroom with teachers who couldn’t give him the attention he needed. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/SAA-Graduation-March24.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/sarasota-graduation-march-2024) Graduations ## [In Sarasota, Grads Celebrate the Road Well-Taken](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/sarasota-graduation-march-2024) April 2, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Addressing the graduates of the Sarasota Acceleration Academies Class of 2024 at their recent commencement celebration, academy director Michelle Llinas reflected on Robert Frost’s most famous poem. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/BAA-Jax-Randles-Graduation.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/bethel-grad-finding-a-second-chance-at-acceleration-academies) Meet Our Graduates ## [Bethel Grad: Finding a Second Chance at Acceleration Academies](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/bethel-grad-finding-a-second-chance-at-acceleration-academies) March 14, 2024 | Jeffrey Good When Jax Randles looked out at other members of the Bethel Acceleration Academies (BAA) Class of 2024, he marveled at how far he and his classmates had come. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/LAA-Evyn-Wright-2.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/laa-evyn-wright) Charter Schools ## [Evyn Wright: ‘I’m Looking Forward to My Future Now’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/laa-evyn-wright) February 29, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Many young people move through high school with a bright sense of possibility. Evyn Wright, by contrast, struggled under a darkening cloud. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/BAA-Makenna-Wheeler.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/baa-makenna-wheeler) Meet Our Graduates ## [Makenna Wheeler: ‘Then I found out about Bethel Acceleration Academies — and it changed my life’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/baa-makenna-wheeler) February 22, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Makenna Wheeler had always been an eager, accomplished student. With a wry smile, she says, “I used to always raise my hand, every question — even if I didn’t know it.” [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/MCAA-Kaylee-Holt.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/marion-county-student-kaylee-holt) Student Stories ## [Marion County Student Kaylee Holt: ‘You Never Go Unheard or Unseen’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/marion-county-student-kaylee-holt) February 20, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Kaylee Holt had always been a strong student, earning As and Bs and making steady progress toward her high school diploma and college education beyond. But then she began algebra and, suddenly, all those plans seemed in question. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/CCAA-Grad-Justin-Watson.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/las-vegas-academies-celebrate-class-of-2024) Meet Our Graduates ## [Las Vegas Academies Celebrate Class of 2024](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/las-vegas-academies-celebrate-class-of-2024) February 7, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Clark County Acceleration Academies (CCAA) began the new year with pomp and circumstance, celebrating the latest class of graduates — 142 young people who pushed through adversity to earn their high school diplomas and move ahead toward college, trade school, military service and well-paying jobs. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/MDAA-Grad-Daniela-Arbelaez.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/mdaa-grad-daniela-arbelaez) Meet Our Graduates ## [MDAA Grad Daniela Arbelaez: Turning Pain Into Strength](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/mdaa-grad-daniela-arbelaez) February 1, 2024 | Jeffrey Good On the cap she wore to celebrate her recent graduation from Miami-Dade Acceleration Academies (MDAA), Daniela Arbelaez emblazoned this message: “The pain you feel today is the strength you will feel tomorrow.” [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/SAA-Ellerie-Hamner.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/saa-ellerie-hamner) Student Stories ## [Ellerie Hamner: ‘You Can Do Anything You Put Your Mind To’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/saa-ellerie-hamner) January 24, 2024 | Jeffrey Good At her old high school, the crowded classrooms and bright lights felt overwhelming to Ellerie Hamner. And because she has epilepsy, having to get up early each morning to begin a traditional school day jarred her system in a way that sometimes caused petit mal seizures. 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