Apolo Ohno, Online Learning Pioneer

Apolo Ohno is one of the biggest stars of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.  Tonight he begins his quest to be the most decorated American at the Winter Olympics.
What you probably don’t know is that Ohno was one of the first graduates of the Internet Academy, one of the pioneers of online learning launched by the Federal Way Public Schools in 1996.  The FW website says Ohno “enrolled in the Internet Academy to finish up his high school credits while training for the Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.  He looks fondly back on his time in Federal Way.”
One of the founding IA teachers Wendy Nevin recalls that he was a good student and “seemed to take his work with his school in the same way that he trained—he paid attention and he took it seriously.”
Online learning is a great option for young people chasing a dream whether it’s a high school diploma, advanced coursework, or Olympic gold.
(Ohno won Silver in the 1500M and JR Celski, FW’s other skater, won Silver)