Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most

Seventy-nine graduates from the Out-of-Door Academy walked the stage at Grace Community Church to receive their diplomas May 22.

By Madison Bierl
| 8:17 p.m. May 22, 2026

Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.

East County
Schools

Oceane Visa always has felt that graduation was something far in her future.

So when she accepted her The Out-of-Door Academy diploma May 22 at Grace Community Church, it didn't feel real to her when she moved her tassel from the right to the left.

"I didn’t think I’d be too sad until I watched my twin sister (Cecile) walk the stage right before me," Oceane Visa said. "As I walked, I felt pure pride. I was finally doing it. Saying goodbye to my friends and my teachers was hard, but I couldn’t help but smile out of excitement to see all that everyone accomplished."

ODA's graduating senior class students were described by Sean Ball, the head of the upper school, as those who showed up at every important event.

"You were there to cheer for each other, to encourage one another, and sometimes just to sit beside one another when words were not necessary," Ball said.

Zachary Papper, the salutatorian for The Out-of-Door Academy class of 2026, encouraged his fellow graduates to take advantage of what life has to offer, even when it might be overwhelming.

"Find the little things that make you happy," Papper said. "No matter where you end up, hold on to those things when you go off and change the world. Those are going to be the moments that make you you."

Hays Wilson, the valedictorian, repeated advice from his late science teacher, Mike Newhams, who died in December. Newhams wrote in Wilson's sophomore year notebook "If you wait long enough, you'll regret it."

"Opportunities fade with time and if there's one thing we all now know at the end of high school, it's that time moves far quicker than we think," Wilson said. "You don't have to be Mahatma Gandhi, Eugenie Clark, George Washington or anyone else to seize the moment."

Elizabeth Kwon says she is sad she won't be surrounded by her classmates every day, but she knows ODA has prepared her for the future.

Roghu Pulluru, graduate Manav Pulluru and Chinni Pulluru celebrate at The Out-of-Door Academy graduation May 22.

Fernando Azcona, who teaches engineering and biology at ODA, was once a middle school advisor for graduate Michelle Becker.

Scarlett Moyer and Mason Chase sing "Seasons of Love" as part of a group of 14 choir students from The Out-of-Door Academy.

Milion Knego, a graduate of the Out-of-Door Academy, beams with pride as she receives her high school diploma May 22 at Grace Community Church.

On May 22 at Grace Community Church in Lakewood Ranch, 79 seniors graduated from The Out-of-Door Academy.

To celebrate the graduation of her son, Alex Fraietta, Diane Fraietta brought a sign of Alex as a baby.

Avery Fulk, Kegan Gargano, Camryn Gouldin and Kevin Gyurka find their loved ones in the audience after direction from Head of School Debra Otey to do so.

Valedictorian Hays Wilson and Salutatorian Zachary Papper, who are both National Merit finalists, each presented a speech at the Out-of-Door Academy commencement ceremony May 22.

Graduates Christoph Chidichimo and Caleb Cheney make their way through the tunnel of educators from The Out-of-Door Academy May 22.

Valedictorian Hays Wilson says he took inspiration for his senior quote from the late Mike Newhams, a science teacher who died in December, who told him "If you wait long enough, you'll regret it."

Scarlett Moyer, Mason Chase, Zachary Papper, Kegan Gargano, Caleb Rodriguez and Hays Wilson sing one last song "Seasons of Love" before they officially graduate from ODA.

Alex Dart, Alex Fraietta, Trenton Hitchcock and James Abernathy celebrate receiving their diplomas from The Out-of-Door Academy May 22 at Grace Community Church.

ODA graduate Grace Jeanes shakes hands with Debra Otey, head of school, as she receives her diploma May 22.

As graduate Mays Montagna passes through various Out-of-Door Academy educators, he gives Assistant Football Coach Mike Zaloga a handshake.

Emerson Miller gets the graduate handshake from Head of School Debra Otey at The Out-of-Door Academy commencement ceremony.

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.