News

On Thursday, May 24, we celebrated our kindergartners at our 4th annual Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony in Marion, OH. We had 14 students and over 70 family and friends attend the celebration of all that the students have accomplished. Each student received a certificate and the Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! After the processional, TRECA’s kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Wright, read a story to her students. Following the ceremony, families enjoyed a small craft and refreshments. Navi, the TRECA mascot, even made a special visit to congratulate the students. We’re so proud of all our kindergartners. In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”

On Thursday, May 17, TRECA Digital Academy students participated in Career Day! The day began learning all about robots from guest speaker, Ritch Ramey, coordinator at RAMTEC. RAMTEC provides robotics and advanced manufacturing training to high school and adult learners. Students learned about different types of robots and rotated between several stations consisting of drones, an NAO humanoid robot, a 3D printer, a Universal Robots Collaborative Arm, and LEGO EV3 Rovers. Our next speaker was TRECA’s very own art teacher, Mr. Monnin. He shared with students his job responsibilities as a teacher and career opportunities in the field of art. He also taught students how to make origami claws! Our afternoon speaker was Peter Sklar, New York-based lecturer and talent scout. He shared with students honest life and career advice. The day concluded with a visit from the Toledo Zoo. They brought several animal friends including a tomato frog, Virgin Island boa, uromastyx lizard, and Kung Pao, the silky, Chinese chicken. Students learned all about the animals and the amazing adaptations they have made to their environments.

Thank you to all of our guest speakers and families who attended!

After maintaining a 4.0 GPA and exceptional attendance, TRECA Digital Academy student Caylee Bennett was accepted into the highly competitive Columbus Zoo & Aquarium School! Caylee had to complete a readiness exam, submit several academic references, and attend an involved orientation held on-site at the zoo in order to be considered for this opportunity.

This fall, she will be one of twenty-six students spending nearly three hours of her school day studying and researching the animals at the zoo. Based on her performance in Zoo School I and acceptance for her junior year of high school, Caylee is automatically eligible to return to Zoo School II for her senior year. Caylee is excited about all of the opportunities she will be a part of. After randomly being assigned an animal, Caylee will spend her days researching the animal in its environment. Her senior year, she will spend her day alongside a zookeeper observing the animals up close. Some of her days will be spent in an academic library located under the Polar Frontier exhibit.

We cannot express how proud we are of Caylee on her exciting journey to a career in Zoology!

On Wednesday, April 25th, TRECA Digital Academy students learned just how “sweet” K-12 education can be! Families toured the Anthony-Thomas Candy Company in Columbus, Ohio. As one of the largest groups in attendance for the day, students were broken into multiple teams for their guided tours. The tours involved learning about the intricate process of growing and distributing cacao, chocolate production processes, seasonal supply chains, as well as general sales and commerce.

Anthony-Thomas is an Ohio-founded candy factory. The business was started by Greek immigrant, Anthony Zanetos. He dreamed up the business with his son, Thomas. To this day, the business remains family owned and operated– making it one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest! The factory's history was an inspiration to TRECA Navigators of all ages. At the conclusion of the 152,000 square foot factory tour, TRECA families received a sweet surprise: a taste test from the 50,000 pounds of delicious chocolate produced daily! 

Andrew Panik, a 12th grader at TRECA Digital Academy, continues to reach for the stars! In this case, it’s a life dedicated to the prestigious stars and stripes of the United States Military

After years of hard work, he has recently been accepted into The United States Naval Academy. His lifelong goal of becoming a military officer begins this fall in Annapolis, MD. Coming from a family with a rich military history, this is an exciting time for Andrew. He has always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his late uncle, LT. Jonas Martin Panik. Andrew’s whole life revolves around this dream– so much so that his dog is even named Lieutenant! And while acceptance into the US Naval Academy may have been his first choice, he was also honored with various other military nominations, including the United States Military Academy and the United States Air Force Academy. What an accomplishment!

In addition to his rigorous course schedule and time spent applying to multiple academies and universities, Andrew also runs track and field for his local school district. He’s actively involved in his community and attends council meetings to give back to the town that has given him so much. He stated that the flexibility of TRECA has allowed him to balance these many commitments and take advantage of opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible elsewhere. We are so proud of you, Andrew, and we’re excited to hear about your experiences in the years to come!