WVVA Senior Spotlight: Cam 

For West Virginia Virtual Academy (WVVA) senior Cam, her final year of high school wasn’t just about finishing strong — it was about finding herself. 

Cam, who lives in Brooke County in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, joined WVVA during her senior year after spending over a decade in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Faced with challenges tied to mental health and sensory sensitivities in a busy school environment, Cam and her family made the decision to transition to virtual school — a move that transformed her academic and personal life. 

“I was very overwhelmed,” Cam said. “But switching to WVVA allowed me to focus, manage my time better, and honestly, it helped me strengthen my relationships and pursue my passions.” 

Surprisingly, the shift to virtual learning helped Cam feel more connected — not less. With increased flexibility, she could spend more time with friends and explore her passion for art without the stress and overstimulation of a noisy school environment. 

“People might think going virtual makes you less social, but it actually gave me the space to be more present and engaged with others outside of school,” she shared. “I wasn’t so burnt out by the end of each day.” 

Cam’s passion for art is evident in her accomplishments. She attended the prestigious Governor’s School for the Arts, where she spent three weeks in Huntington learning from professional artists. One of her proudest achievements? Contributing to a public mural displayed at the West Edge Factory in Huntington. 

And her artistic impact didn’t stop there. Cam’s work was selected for a statewide contest and is now featured on a public transit bus in Charleston — a moving tribute to her creativity. “It’s in the style of my coloring books and seeing it on the side of a real bus is just so cool,” she said. 

Her love of illustration and education came together during her sophomore year when she created a mini coloring book about pollinators for pre-K students at her school. “I love bugs,” Cam said, laughing. “I brought little models and got to teach them about local pollinators. It was so much fun.” 

This experience sparked an idea: Cam is now developing her own coloring book business, aiming to provide fun and accessible learning materials for teachers. “I want my art to be something that helps people,” she said. “Even if it doesn’t become a full-time job, it’s something I’ll always be passionate about.” 

As she prepares to graduate, Cam is proud of how much she’s grown academically. “This is the first year since freshman year that I’ve had all A’s throughout the entire year,” she said. “It’s not that the coursework was easier — but I was finally able to focus. I had amazing teachers who really cared and supported me.” 

That level of care made a lasting impression. “I had a power outage recently and had to send a frantic email from a parking lot,” Cam recalled. “All my teachers responded almost immediately, reassuring me. Just knowing they genuinely care — it’s healing.” 

Cam plans to take a gap year after graduation before attending a nearby esthetician school. While she still plans to build her coloring book business, she sees her future career in skincare as a practical balance between creativity and stability. 

“I learned so much this year — about myself, about learning, and about what I’m capable of,” Cam said. “I’m just really glad I made the switch to WVVA. I only wish I had done it sooner.” 

Congratulations, Cam — your creativity, resilience, and drive are inspiring, and your WVVA family is proud to celebrate this milestone with you. To learn more about attending WVVA, visit wvva.k12.com.