Florida Virtual School Names Top Five Graduates, All Achieving GPAs Above 4.6

The Florida Virtual School (FLVS) Class of 2025 graduation will take place May 27 at the Addition Financial Arena at the University of Central Florida, where the top five seniors will be recognized for their academic achievements.

Five FLVS Full Time seniors are being recognized for their academic achievement, earning the top GPAs in their class of 1251 students. Each of the top five scholars in the class of 2025 achieved GPAs above 4.6. 

FLVS will hold its annual in-person graduation ceremony at the University of Central Florida’s Additional Financial Arena on May 27 at 2 p.m. The event will be live-streamed.

The top five students who are graduating with the highest honor of summa cum laude are: 

• Felix Walther, Cape Coral: At just 18 years old, Walther, who is a certified English as a Foreign Language teacher by TEFOL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) HQ, has traveled to Costa Rica multiple times throughout high school to volunteer at a local vocational school. His travels inspired him to pursue an international relations degree at the University of Florida. On May 27, he will receive the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma with Distinction. Walther hopes to become a social/socio-economic consultant and researcher.

• Sydnie Mainella, Spring Hill: Next year, Mainella plans on majoring in environmental studies at Dartmouth College. She was inspired to follow this degree path because she participated in a seven-week Science Training Program at the University of Florida last summer. While there, she researched salt tolerance and stress responses in Brassica juncea (mustard greens). Mainella has also served on the leadership team for the FLVS STEAM Club and as secretary of the National English Honor Society. 

• Jenna Ruedy, Largo: An ice hockey player since she was six years old, Ruedy has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey at the University of New England Honors College, where she will also study marine biology. In addition to her intensive schedule playing with the Florida Alliance Girls hockey program, she volunteered more than 200 hours of her time at the Pinellas County Animal Services as an adoptions and animal enrichment volunteer.
  

• Alivia Graber, Sarasota: Graber has participated in Friendship Circle, an organization that connects and encourages connections between teens and children with special needs. On May 27, she will receive the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma. Graber plans to take a gap year to travel and spend time volunteering before pursuing a pre-veterinary degree. 

• Ethan Graham, Winter Park: Already a college graduate by the time he walks across the stage, Graham earned his Associate of Arts degree from Polk State College through FLVS dual enrollment courses. Graham will study film at the University of Central Florida in the fall. 

“Florida Virtual High School has long been recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality, flexible learning to students throughout Florida,” said Suzanna Pacheco, Florida Virtual High School principal. “With nearly a quarter of our graduating seniors receiving summa cum laude distinction with a 4.0 GPA or higher, an education with FLVS underscores the effectiveness of rigorous academic standards, one-on-one teaching, and personalized instruction in fostering student success.” 

Additional stats that further highlight the success of the Florida Virtual High School Class of 2025:

• 91 students participated in the National Honor Society
  

• 51 students completed more than 250 hours of community service
  

• 45 students graduating with the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE)
  

• 16 students participated in the Spanish National Honor Society
  

• 15 students are graduating with either their Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Sciences (AS) degree, made possible through the FLVS dual enrollment program

The Florida Virtual School’s full-time schools are available to all Florida Kindergarten through 12th grade students. The fully online educational experience is delivered in real-time by Florida-certified teachers. The public school district includes an elementary, middle, and high school. Students take a full-time course load and follow a traditional 180-day school year from August through May. 

Families interested in enrolling in Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools for the 2025-26 school year can apply online beginning June 2. Learn more about other FLVS school options, including individual courses for students supplementing their learning from traditional or homeschool settings.