Bridges Virtual Academy holds Class of 2026 graduation

Bridges Virtual Academy held its Class of 2026 graduation ceremony May 15, 2026, in the Merrill High School Auditorium, marking another milestone for the Merrill School District’s K4-12 virtual charter school.
Forty-two students made up this year’s graduating class, with 32 participating in the ceremony. More than 300 family members and friends attended. Since the school’s founding in 2012, a total of 436 students have graduated from BVA.
The Class of 2026 made notable academic strides before crossing the stage. Nineteen seniors collectively earned 136 college credits, and the graduating class as a whole accumulated 213 college credits through the Start College Now and Early College Credit Program. Half of those high-achieving seniors also earned credit for part-time work during their high school years.
BVA draws students from communities across Wisconsin. This year’s graduates represented more than 40 cities and towns statewide, including two local graduates — Andrew Koss and Brynlynn McCaskill, both of Merrill.
Graduates from outside the Merrill area include: Sage Anderson (Ferryville), Lucas Benhart (Whitewater), Jaron Bishop (De Pere), Nathan Braden (Oxford), Leah Brehm (Oconomowoc), Alondra Castro (New Berlin), Wyatt Clint (Mosinee), Sarah Curkovic (Oregon), Caden Douma (Kenosha), Anika Drexler (Marshfield), Elliot Faust (Wausau), Charity Frank (Jackson), Myrah Frank (Waterloo), Natalie Gukich (Lac du Flambeau), Genavieve Hardy (Franklin), Maliyah Jared (Appleton), Amelia Kolodzinski (North Prairie), Lydia Leonardson (Sussex), Mason Loeb (Slinger), Connor Loutensock (Muskego), Benjamin Maki (Milwaukee), William Maki (Milwaukee), Sophia Marlin (Eau Claire), Shawn Matiash (Oshkosh), Gideon Martinez (Mukwonago), Andrew McCabe (Waukesha), Zachary Michael (Tomahawk), Isabella Mickelberg (North Prairie), Amelia Miner (Rib Lake), Annalise Mundschau (Dousman), Eliza Pfarr (Clinton), Emma Pickering (Wausau), Wesley Pollnow (Franksville), Anna Redmond (Plover), Shay Rose (Wittenberg), Lina Spor (Germantown), Sydne Thomte (Baraboo), Finn VanGrinsven (La Valle), Logan Wagner (Sayner), and Samantha Williams (Beloit).
As the school looks toward its 15th year, BVA officials expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with the Merrill School District.