Citizenship Awards presented to:

Shandelle Fawcett and Sarah Peden!

Shandelle and Sarah have consistently demonstrated outstanding character, responsibility, and a deep commitment to their community, making them deserving recipients of the Citizenship Award. Through their actions, they have shown kindness, respect, and a strong sense of fairness. Whether collaborating on projects, volunteering, or offering a helping hand to others, Shandelle and Sarah exemplify the values of respect, integrity, and inclusivity. Their positive attitude, willingness to stand up for what is right, and genuine care for the well-being of others make them an invaluable role model. It is with great pride that we honour Shandelle and Sarah for their exemplary citizenship and dedication to making the world around them a better place.

Valedictorian for 2025:

Veronica Skliarov

Vista Virtual School recognizes a valedictorian each year, not only for academic excellence but also for overall student contributions and time spent at VVS. After careful review by the awards committee, this year’s valedictorian stands out for her dedication, achieving an impressive academic record while actively participating in the arts and community service. She has been a committed student since 2022, completing multiple advanced courses with outstanding marks. Beyond academics, she has pursued art for over a decade and plans to volunteer at hospitals before applying to a local EMT program. We proudly congratulate Valedictorian Veronica Skliarov!

Class of 2025:

Aisha Abuoun:

Aisha is proud to be celebrating this important milestone and everything it took to get here. She appreciates the flexibility of Vista Virtual, which allowed her to learn at her own pace and travel while studying. In the next five years, she sees herself entering a great program, working, and stepping confidently into independent adulthood. Aisha looks up to her parents for their constant support, her sister for always encouraging her, her brothers for making her laugh, and her hardworking aunts who continue to inspire her. She’s incredibly grateful for her friends, who have been by her side through both the highs and lows, always cheering her on and bringing joy to her journey.

Zakhary Adelman:

Zakhary is graduating after completing his studies through virtual school, which allowed him to train full-time with the Olympic Oval Speed skating program. His dedication to both sport and academics is matched by his kind and grounded personality. A great big brother and loyal friend, Zakhary is a true all-around athlete—he enjoys all kinds of sports and is also an accomplished sailor—but speed skating has always been his first love. This fall, he’s headed to university, excited to take on new challenges and opportunities with the same determination and heart he’s shown throughout high school.

Shahd A.

Shahd is proud of her journey and growth. Her goal is to keep learning and building a strong future. VVS gave Shahd the chance to succeed in her own way!

Mohamad

Mohamad’s goal for the next five years is to dedicate himself to self-growth, to study hard and earn a degree, and to build himself in all the ways that make a man whole. He will strive to make both God and his family proud—they have shown him immeasurable patience and an unshakeable sense of belief in his potential, even when he couldn’t see it himself.

Cydney Carson

Cydney’s goals in the next five years are to finish the veterinary medical assistant program, and maybe go back to school to do a veterinary technician course.

Hajira Farooq

After surviving approximately 762 mental battles with her Wi-Fi, she is proud to graduate from Vista Virtual School! Hajira plans to pursue a degree in computer science. What she loved most about VVS was being able to learn at her own pace (a.k.a in pajamas). Big shoutout to everyone who supported her—emotionally, academically, and with snacks!

Shandelle Fawcett

Shandelle’s mom is her biggest inspiration and has everything to do with who she is today! She plans to study Agricultural Management come September at Olds College and set out to build a career in agriculture.

Jenwell G.

Jenwell plans to be in the medical field for college, specifically an optometry assistant. She hopes to be an ultrasound tech one day. She enjoyed attending Vista Virtual because it pushed her to be disciplined and have far better time management skills.

Isma Iqbal

In the next five years, Isma’s goals are to attend University and pursue a career in Psychology to become a certified skilled psychologist by helping others improve their health and well-being. Academic excellence is also important to Isma! She has enjoyed the flexibility and support at VVS, which allowed her to explore her interests and grow as a student. Her family has been her biggest inspiration; always encouraging her to work hard and aim high! Isma is looking forward to becoming more independent, learning life skills and facing new challenges. She is excited for new experiences and successes ahead. Her journey is like walking up stairs, each step she takes, she will keep going and pushing forward until she reaches success. Throughout this path, she wants to make her parents proud and show them that their support has influenced who she is today.

Bethya

Bethya loves crafting and helping people, hanging out with her friends, family and how silly they can be. Some of her friends describe Bethya as bubbly, kind, fun, bright, smart, talented. What she really enjoyed about VVS was learning at her own pace and how helpful the staff and teachers are. Someone who has really inspired her would be her mom, as she always encouraged Bethya to do her best and never to give up and to be happy with the results. In the future, she wants to be a pharmacy assistant so she can continue to help people.

Jasmin Johnston

Jasmin has a love for art, history, and all the strange little things that make life interesting. She’s curious, and engaged, spending her time drawing, studying art history, and playing games with friends. Known for being eccentric yet laid-back, she’s quite excited to see where life takes her after this chapter closes.

Mya Jorquera

Mya would like to thank all of her teachers and her family for helping her graduate and constantly helping her to be a better student. Over her 3 years at VVS she has grown not only in her education but in her social media marketing business and her youth soccer coaching. These experiences have taught her leadership, creativity and resilience. She is excited to see where the next chapter takes her!

Vassili Karatairis

This is Vassili, and he is from Edmonton, Alberta. He was happy to take courses with Vista Virtual school because he was able to complete his high school diploma while working.  Studying online helped him better engage with his courses. His goal is to continue with his post-secondary studies, and he will be applying to University next semester.

Cherry Lehan

Cherry thrived in the online community at Vista Virtual. Her family is so proud of her hard work and accomplishments. Everyone is excited to see which of her many interests becomes a career!

Presleigh Lopez

Presleigh’s goals for the next five years are to continue expanding her knowledge and experience through exploring nature as the seasons change while admiring the marvelous creations around her. She desires to spend time with her family and watch her little sisters become lovely young ladies as time passes. The part of VVS that she enjoyed the most was the relatively flexible schedule and freedom to do her schooling from wherever she wanted. She is very grateful for the many powerful individuals in her life that have inspired her to persevere through her struggles.

Jorel Mabazza

Jorel is looking forward to attending post-secondary in the future. During his time with VVS he enjoyed being able to work from anywhere and on his own time. He thanks his family for being there with him during these years.

Addy Mcrae

Addison’s goal for the next 5 years is to truly start her life. She wants to see the world, meet new people, and cherish every memory along the way. She wants to find a career that she will love – a career that is rewarding, and a career that helps others succeed. Addison can’t wait to start this next chapter of her life, and she is so excited to share special moments like this with the people she loves.

Saamiya M

Sammiya plans to attend SAIT to study Journalism and see where that path takes her. What she enjoyed the most about attending VVS was the teachers that she got to know who were there to support her throughout her journey. For that, she is very thankful.

Sarah Peden

Sarah is an avid skater and snowboarder, guitar player, and travel enthusiast who’s always taking on new hobbies. Through her time at VVS, she’s appreciated the flexibility to learn and grow while being able to dedicate time to her passions. In the next five years, she plans to pursue radiology and work toward a meaningful and successful career in healthcare. Now that high school is complete, she’s excited to take the next step and see where her journey leads.

Ava Raffan

Ava’s goals for the next five years are to complete the hairstyling program at Delmar college, then obtain a Red Seal. She plans to work in a salon to start; then eventually open her own salon. She enjoyed working on her courses from the comfort of her home and having the ability to work school around her schedule. Ava’s mom was her inspiration, her biggest cheerleader, and her Mom wants her to succeed in all that she does in life!

Jude

Over the next five years, Jude plans to continue her education and pursue a career that challenges and inspires her. Her favorite part of attending VVS was the supportive community and the flexibility to learn in a way that worked best for her. Jude is especially inspired by her teachers and family, who have always believed in her and encouraged her to keep pushing forward.

Ryder Ricketson

Ryder is an aspiring filmmaker on his way to the Vancouver Film School. Ryder has written, directed, and acted in several student films. This was possible due to the flexible schedule of Vista Virtual, and he aspires to continue chasing the realm of film.

Sahl Shafiq

As Sahl’s high school journey comes to a close, he looks back with gratitude on his time at Vista Virtual School which he joined in grade nine. One of his greatest inspirations has always been the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), whose character and leadership continue to shape his values and ambitions. In the next five years, he hopes to grow in both knowledge and service, pursue a path that connects his passion for sports, like soccer and cricket, and helping others, and continue striving to become the best version of himself. Sahl is deeply thankful to first and foremost God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon him and the support God has aided him with throughout his life because nothing would have been possible without His help. He also thanks his parents for always being by his side, and to the incredible staff and teachers at Vista Virtual for their guidance and encouragement. As he moves forward, he congratulates his fellow graduates and wishes them all the best in the journey ahead!

Sania Shaik

Sania aspires to study psychology in her post-secondary journey and explore a career as a clinical psychologist or therapist. She hopes to impact and help many people along the way, while learning more about this fascinating field. VVS has been instrumental in shaping her academic experience, and she is grateful for the support and experience she has gained during her time attending this school.

Alexandra S.

There has been a lot of adventure and change in Alexandra’s life during her school time. She has switched from horseback riding to gymnastics to ice skating to ballet to tap dancing to chess club. Yet, throughout all this change, one thing stayed the same… Art! Till this day, her life is full of colours, either actual ones or emotional. She strives to be an art teacher, or an artist, but no matter what happens, she knows life will be amazing.

Veronica Skliarov

Veronica is an aspiring paramedic with a passion for the arts. She will spend the rest of her life celebrating the benefits of her education at VVS by dedicating her efforts towards giving back to her community.

Kiana Smith

Kiana’s goals for the next 5 years are to complete the radiology program, become a cheerleading coach, and lead a team to a world championship. She enjoyed working on school from home around her schedule and the support of the amazing teachers. Her mom is her biggest inspiration because she has the kindest heart, is always helping others, and she made Kiana the person she is today!

Sarah Spratt

Sarah joined Vista Virtual School going into grade 11 to give herself more time to focus on Artistic Swimming. Over the next 5 years, she wants to go to university to become an airline pilot. She has a huge love for swimming, and she has been doing artistic swimming for 10 years.

Maylia St-laurent

As Maylia walks the stage, she is excited about everything that’s coming up. She wants to become as rich as possible, start her own business, travel the world, and just enjoy life to the fullest, while still performing freestyle skiing and always staying grateful and happy. She would say that her main and biggest inspiration over the years has been her dad, as he always believed in her and pushed her to chase her goals. She liked being in an online school because she could create her own schedule and still have lots of free time outside of doing school work.

Dylan

Dylan will be aiming to pursue her legal career in the UK, with the hopes of becoming a corporate and stocks lawyer. Her determination, shaped by the challenges she’s overcome and the goals she has set, continues to motivate her every day. Now that she has completed school, she is excited to begin the next chapter in her journey toward a successful legal career.

Mackenzie Woycenko

Mackenzie aims to grow both personally and professionally, pursuing opportunities that challenge her, allow her to make a difference, and reflect on her passions in the business industry. During her time at VVS she truly enjoyed and appreciated the immense support and encouragement from all the staff. Both her mom and her dad have been an inspiration since the beginning, showing her that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve everything you put your mind to.

Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to all 132 students that received their diploma from VVS in 2024!

Walter Flock – Valedictorian 2024

Every year, the VVS graduation committee recognizes a valedictorian. This is usually a student whose academic achievements set them apart from the class, but at VVS, we also consider the overall quality of the student, including the time spent at VVS. This year’s Valedictorian is an exceptional student. Walter joined VVS in 2021 and has completed his entire high school program with us. Walter has received numerous honour awards here at VVS.

Class of 2024

Ibraheem Al-Mimar:

Ibraheem’s goal is to be successful in the future and give back to his family. His family inspired him to be successful! Especially his mom, dad, sister and he can’t forget his Grandfather who is watching him from up above. They all pushed Ibraheem to be the best he can be!

Maella:

Maella’s mom has inspired her to become the person she is. She strives to be caring, motivational, and kind. Maella wishes to have a career in the performance industry and hopes to inspire people through art.

Kaiden Brown:

Kaiden joined Vista Virtual School going into grade 10. He joined so he would have more time to play hockey, help out on the farm, and focus on self growth. VVS helped him grow a positive outlook on education, and being able to work at his own pace helped him develop a strong level of discipline that he is extremely grateful for. He has a huge love for hockey. He’s been a goalie for 11 years, and he is a die hard oilers fan. VVS helped create a balance between hobbies and school unlike any other school he has attended. In the next 5 years he plans on growing his digital marketing business, travelling, going to oilers games, and making the most out of life. He plans to strive to be as successful as he can. Life is short, and he wants to spend it doing the things he loves.

Mya:

Mya’s favourite part about going to Vista over the years was being a part of the weekly GSA and getting to meet some amazing people! She is looking forward to going to university for film and working on some new projects in the coming years.

Rowan C.:

After high school, Rowan plans on working with dogs, travelling to Costa Rica, and seeing plenty of concerts. She has enjoyed her weekly QSA meetings and the freedom that comes from learning at Vista Virtual School. Rowan’s family inspires her to be strong, have fun, and to go out and experience the world. Thank you to everyone who has helped Rowan with this accomplishment.

Mikka E.:

Mikka is planning on attending SAIT next year to get licensed as a Pharmacy Assistant, though one day would like to be an Optometrist. She has been speed skating for 12 years and would love to continue skating at a high level.

Walter Flock:

Walter is an oboist and musician interested in eclecticism and heterogeneity. Having relocated from downtown Calgary to rural Alberta just prior to high school, he is grateful for Vista Virtual School’s quality distance education. It offered him a special vantage point to see the bigger picture in his studies. This fall, Walter is incredibly excited to be attending McGill’s Schulich School of Music. It promises to be a busy, challenging, and confidence-building experience.

Hayley Glass:

Hayley has been with Vista Virtual for all of her high school years. She has enjoyed being able to work on her own time and the flexibility that comes with online school. She has excelled in her courses, earning her honours throughout with her determination and hard work. Hayley has known from a very young age after watching way too much Dateline as a kid that she was destined to head into the psychology/medical field, with the ultimate goal of being a forensic psychiatrist. She has been accepted into the Bachelors of Arts in Psychology program at the University of Calgary in the fall, where she will start her path to pursuing that dream career.

Addy Hoglander:

Addy started with Vista Virtual school late 2020 and quickly found learning at home was an ideal option for completing his high school education. With no need to sit in a classroom, it provided an opportunity for academic growth, and was the perfect fit. With self-determination and perseverance, Addy overcame any challenges to accomplish his goals and aspirations.

Addy is excited to see what the future holds – travel, work, exploring life. Today marks the end of one phase. The next chapter awaits.

Annika J.:

Annika entered VVS during grade 12 for an early high school graduation. Economics and law quickly became her favourite subjects. Annika has been offered early acceptance into UBC, and is currently focusing on a double major in international relations and economics during the spring session.

Annika had the opportunity to intern at the office of The Shadow Minister of the Treasury Board of Canada and will be working on her campaign for the 2025 Canadian federal election.

She plays competitive squash, and enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Gabe J.:

Gabe is taking the summer off from school, playing video games, and volunteering at the Veteran’s Food Bank to keep himself useful. He will be attending the University of London England in the fall, where he will continue utilizing the discipline and time management skills that Vista has helped him develop over the past few years. Following in his dad’s footsteps, he will be going into Cybersecurity, focusing on Machine Learning and AI.

Annika J.:

We recognize Annika’s budding career in the art industry. With a promising start, they look forward to discovering where their talents will take them in the coming years. Inspired by recent achievements, they set out on a journey of exploration and growth. Let’s cheer for Annika as they venture into the exciting possibilities of their artistic future!

Mariam K.:

Mariam wants to express her deepest gratitude to her parents and especially her big sister. They have been her unwavering pillars of support, guiding lights, and biggest inspirations. They didn’t just believe in her, they pushed her forward, encouraging her to strive for success even when she doubted herself. Their belief in Mariam, their sacrifices, and their endless encouragement have brought her to this moment. As she embarks on this next chapter of her life, she wishes to go to university with the intention of making them proud every step of the way.

Kaleb K.:

Kaleb plans on going to college to become a carpenter. Or win the lottery so he doesn’t need to become a carpenter. Some things he really likes are: his cat Furby, playing Xbox, board games, puzzles and reading Garfield comics.

Ava Krynski:

Ava’s aspirations are becoming a civil engineer, doing humanitarian work for her religion, and to preach God’s message. She is looking forward to going to SAIT in the fall to start her studies. Her favourite thing about Vista Virtual is that it taught her how to be more independent, along with how to have a balanced schedule through trial and error. She’s glad she was able to learn those lessons living at home. Our school allowed her to pursue travelling solo at a younger age, play more hockey/hunt with her dad, sleep in, work better hours, and live a more active lifestyle. Ava will forever be grateful that she had this opportunity!

Callum MacRae-Gardner:

Callum has attended VVS since grade 8.  He is very studious and enjoys researching psychology, chemistry, history, and biological sciences.  Callum plays the trumpet, and is interested in speculative evolution, illustration and creating anatomical descriptions as well as paleo art, and belongs to several Speculative science communities. Callum was a competitive swimmer and is now completing his life guarding and swim instructor certifications. He is very active and enjoys inline skating, figure skating, and kayaking. Callum will be attending Athabasca University in September, pursuing a degree in Biology and Psychology.

Sagal Mohamed:

Sagal is filled with excitement for what lies ahead. Whether it entails pursuing further education, embarking on a career, or exploring new paths, she is prepared to embrace the challenge. Among her most cherished memories of VVS are the incredible teachers who consistently supported her, answered questions and motivated her to strive harder. Sagal’s family has been an unwavering pillar of support, continuously urging her to aim higher and work harder. With their encouragement and the invaluable lessons learned from her three years at Vista Virtual, Sagal feels more than ready to confront whatever the future holds.

Zakiya N:

Zakiya is excited at the prospect of what is to come in the near future. Following her time at VVS she plans to take a gap year and travel the world. Her goal is to see as much as possible and fulfill a childhood dream of being a world traveller. After a year of adventure and impact, she will pursue a degree in education or psychology.

Dia Syed:

Dia is a very spontaneous and determined Pakistani Canadian. Dia wishes to become a lawyer, primarily one that specializes in divorce because she doesn’t believe in romance. She hopes to apply the skills of communication and critical analysis from Vista Virtual School as she progresses in life as an adult. She applies the mindset of reassurance to herself to counter the daily obstacles in her life. As Dia’s inspiration Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and Cricketer of Pakistan puts it, “Pain will eventually subside, nothing remains forever, so keep going and don’t give up.”

Anna Van Bostelen:

Anna will be attending Macewan University in the Fall for the Paralegal Studies program. Anna has been with Vista Virtual School since grade 9 and has enjoyed the flexibility and teaching methods. In her spare time Anna enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, swimming, violin lessons and working as a cashier.

Ashleigh Winfield:

Ashleigh enjoyed her academic journey with VVS. She will be joining the family business and pursuing further education development in accounting and air brushing.

Bismah:

As the chapter of her high school life comes to an end, and she begins a new journey, Bismah hopes to grow and learn from her experiences at Vista Virtual School. She joined Vista Virtual in her grade seven year and evolved as a student by gaining independence in her learning and academic capabilities, including time management, commitment, and dedication to her work. One of the most valuable lessons she has learned during her time at Vista Virtual is consistency. She understands that, although a person’s motivation is bound to fluctuate, maintaining consistency is key to achieving goals, no matter how challenging they may seem. Equipped with these skills and lessons, Bismah is eager to pursue a business-related career and looks forward to what the future holds for her.

She is grateful to her family for always supporting her academic decisions and passions, and being there to lend her advice or uplift her day. Bismah would also like to extend her heartfelt gratitude to the amazing Vista Virtual staff and teachers for their invaluable support and encouragement throughout her academic journey.

As Bismah bids farewell to her school, she congratulates her fellow graduates for their achievements.

Joshua:

Over the next five years, Josh is hoping to further his studies at SAIT or to get a job. Josh is wanting to do whatever the Lord leads him to do.

Josh enjoyed taking the PE course with VVS. He likes that you can select any of the activities and work on the different components to reach your number of hours…. and being able to make it fit into your schedule. Josh enjoys the variety of activities, and he might one day decide to go skiing, or walking. Josh has been inspired by God, family, friends, and teachers.