Virtual high school celebrates first graduation

Amazing Grace Virtual Academy (AGVA), a fully accredited online WELS high school, celebrated a milestone May 15 with its first graduation of fully online learners.

Three students graduated high school in a virtual ceremony, participating from their homes in South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

“This milestone to be able to issue high school diplomas to its first graduating class is yet another example of how AGVA has been extremely blessed by a gracious God over its first 14 years of existence,” says Dr. James Grunwald, AGVA’s executive director.

Amazing Grace Virtual Academy (known for a time as ALHS Online) has been offering high-quality online courses since 2011 to supplement the class offerings of WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod high schools and elementary schools. With more inquiries from families who didn’t have the opportunity to send their children to one of WELS’ 30 Lutheran high schools, the academy decided to expand its offerings, enrolling its first full-time students in 2022. Currently 18 students are taking classes full time and 381 are taking individual courses.

The academy serves a diverse student population, including Lutheran school students whose schools don’t offer all of the courses that meet their learning interests or specific course needs, home-schooled students, students from public schools seeking additional courses, and learners with medical or personal constraints that limit traditional schooling.

Grunwald is stepping down as the academy’s full-time executive director this year but will continue to serve part time through June 2026. “Being a part of AGVA since its beginning 14 years ago and working with extremely dedicated students, partner schools, instructors, and fellow administrators has been a true blessing,” he says. “To God be the glory!”

Learn more at amazinggraceva.org. Read more about AGVA’s first graduation at forwardinchrist.net/online-partnership.