Virginia Homeschool | Graduation Press Release

PRESS RELEASE
May 19, 2008
Subject: HEAV State Convention

Contact:
Anne Miller (President); 757-253-2518; president@heav.org
Yvonne Bunn (Director of Homeschool Support); 804-278-9200; ybunn@heav.org

Nation's Largest Homeschool Graduation to Be Held in Richmond

177 homeschooled students to graduate at HEAV graduation ceremony.

On Saturday, June 7, 2008, the last day of the 25th Annual HEAV State Convention & Educational Fair, 177 homeschooling students will participate in the Home Educators Association of Virginia's homeschool graduation ceremony. The graduating students in this ceremony represent individual homeschools from all across Virginia, including Northern Virginia, Newport News, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, Western Virginia, and the Richmond area. These students all share one thing in common: They received all or part of their education in the home.

Micah Miller, a graduate from Williamsburg and the son of HEAV president Anne Miller, shares a little about his homeschool experience. "Being homeschooled from start to finish was an amazing blessing. (Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making the sacrifice!) During my homeschool years, my parents encouraged me to be a life-long learner. They taught me everything from electronic circuit board logic to formal policy debate to the basic principles of business." Like many of his fellow graduates, Micah is graduating with some college credit already under his belt. He has been dual enrolled for the past year at Thomas Nelson Community College and is planning to earn an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

"Homeschooling gives students the flexibility to learn at their own pace-and to learn to love learning," writes Anne Miller, Micah's mother and HEAV's president. "Our graduates are a unique group with a diverse set of interests. Under the guidance of their parents, they've had time to develop their interests and learn invaluable life lessons and values."

The graduation ceremony, the largest homeschooling graduation in the nation, will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and will include a commencement address by homeschool dad and attorney Scott Sommerville entitled, "The Pursuit of Happiness."

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The Home Educators Association of Virginia strengthens and empowers the more than 23,000 homeschoolers throughout the Commonwealth. HEAV, a statewide, member-supported, non-profit association, has served Virginia homeschoolers through information, legislation, and resources for the past 25 years. Media personnel can learn more by visiting www.heav.org/media.