Out-of-Door Academy's Rhegan Duncombe smiles as she accepts her diploma from Deb Otey, the head of school.
Photo by Liz Ramos
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Johnny Robinson, a graduate at The Out-of-Door Academy, had mixed emotions as he put on his cap and gown.
While he's looking forward to heading off to Florida State University to study commercial entrepreneurship, he's sad to be leaving the friends that have felt more like family since starting at ODA in kindergarten.
"It's a big deal that I'm finally leaving ODA, the place I've called home for 13 years," Robinson said. "It's exciting but sad."
Graduate Jason Albano said he was feeling a lot of emotions as he was preparing for the ceremony. He said leaving ODA is bittersweet.
"We've all grown up together," Albano said of his classmates. "I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to be friends with though."
Out-of-Door Academy's Aiden Smith cheers as he sees his family.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Nevan Hernandez, Luca Marino and Jason Albano say they're feeling a lot of emotions. Albano says he couldn't ask for a better group of friends in high school.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Angela Majicanos, the Spanish teacher on the lower campus, Linda Vasilaki, the music teacher on the lower campus, and curriculum director Kelly Rose are excited to celebrate the graduates.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Kaylee Shockey, Audrey Cochran and Ines Visa decorate their caps to reflect where they're going to college.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy graduates prepare for the graduation ceremony.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Emma Cole, Estella Hornback, Claire Maag, Maggie Fincher and Sara Green say it feels amazing to be graduating.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy graduates take a selfie to commemorate the occasion.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Drew Hill, Arlo Hanes and Will Becker are excited to be at graduation. "I'm proud of every single one of my peers," Hanes says.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Harper Campbell and Johnny Robinson say graduating is bittersweet, especially for Robinson who has been attending ODA since kindergarten.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Selina Zhang and Katy Fulton perform with an ensemble.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Tony and Courtney Bonacuse have cutouts made of Out-of-Door Academy's Emma Bonacuse.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Families watch as the Out-of-Door Academy graduates make their way to their seats.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Felipe Balharry, Sloan Arslaner and Jason Albano are thrilled to be at graduation.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy junior Gavin Gargano sings the school's alma mater.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Sara Green and Giovanni Giuliani sing along to the school's alma mater.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Johnny Robinson says his classmates have become more like family during his time at the school.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Graduates from Out-of-Door Academy's Class of 2023 will enroll in 53 colleges and universities across the country, some of which are shown on their caps.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Bayside Community Church is packed with friends and family to celebrate Out-of-Door Academy's Class of 2023.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy graduates decorate their caps to represent where they are headed after graduation or to express a passion.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Robert Zhang, the Class of 2023 valedictorian, reminisces over his time in high school.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Deb Otey, the Out-of-Door Academy's head of school, encourages graduates to find three things in life: People, purpose and peace.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Natalie Carrión sings her heart out in her last performance as an ODA student.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Olivia Millin, Natalie Carrión, Svetlana Kondratovich, Kaylee Shockey and Johnny Robinson sing together at the graduation ceremony.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Johnny Robinson gives it his all as he sings with his fellow graduates during their final performance.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Maria Shaw performs with other seniors at their graduation.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Donovan Ballinas shakes hands with Thomas Murphy, the chair of ODA's board of trustees, before accepting his diploma.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Rhegan Duncombe smiles as she accepts her diploma from Deb Otey, the head of school.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Giovanni Giuliani accepts his diploma from Deb Otey, the head of school.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Each Out-of-Door Academy graduate receives a rose.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy's Ada Giraldo is headed off to Boston University while Emma Clyne will attend Florida Atlantic University and Emily Peterson will go to Sewanee, University of the South.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Joe Millin and his wife, Deborah Millin, are proud of Out-of-Door Academy graduate Olivia Millin (center), who will go onto Villanova University.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Out-of-Door Academy graduate Jack Hobson celebrates with his family.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Brett Arslaner, Elle Arslaner, Bianca Arslaner and Tricia Arslaner celebrate with Out-of-Door Academy graduate Sloan Arslaner.
Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.
