K12 Kids are Amazing: Colorado Virtual Academy student Kelsey W.

shoaglund's picture
Submitted by on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:52am

Photo by Kelsey W. When you talk about accomplished students, no doubt Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA) student Kelsey W. will be mentioned. Attending school online has allowed Kelsey, a self-taught artist, a budding entrepreneur and a student with a 4.3 GPA, to actively pursue her interests, including medicine, and advance academically and personally. 

Kelsey was recently selected out of hundreds nationwide to be featured as Next Step U magazine’s Super Teen, recognizing students “who drop jaws” through their academic, community and extracurricular work. And without a doubt, Kelsey can drop jaws.

At COVA, she founded the premedical and “mathemaniacs” clubs, was elected president of the International Forensic Science club and participates in Japanese animation (Anime), art, history and debate clubs and is the secretary of student government. She’s also in several AP courses including calculus and chemistry—unheard of for most high school sophomores—and was nominated for the National Honor Society.

“Kelsey has truly inspired and challenged me as an instructor and as a person,” said Shandra Pankoski, Kelsey’s AP calculus teacher and head of the COVA Math Department. “She’s full of creativity, energy, and passion, and attempts everything whole heartedly.”

Kelsey completed several apprenticeships with surgeons around the United Sates. This summer, she’ll be heading to India for a surgical placement at Jodhpur Hospital. She also has her apprentice doctor certificate through the apprentice doctor program, where aspiring surgeons gain practical medical field experience through labs, simulation instruments and common medical tools.

Related Links