June 12, 2025 — This week in Fort Myers, Lee County Acceleration Academies was featured on ABC Gulf Coast News as they celebrated a powerful milestone: 75 students earned their high school diplomas, each one overcoming significant obstacles to reach the finish line.
In interviewing the students, they noted that every graduate brought with them a story of resilience. For some, traditional school wasn’t a fit, like Alex Prieto, who recalled, “I was, like, getting bullied and stuff.” Claudia Garcia struggled to keep up with school as her family moved frequently for her father’s job. “At my old school, I had a lot of absences due to traveling,” she explained. Ava Pandelo has worked full-time since she was 14 to help support her family, juggling school and a job most adults would find challenging.
Faced with barriers that made conventional education difficult, these students found a lifeline in Lee County Acceleration Academies, a program designed to meet students where they are with flexibility, compassion, and high expectations.
Director Shelley Markgraf spoke about the mission behind the work: “Somewhere along the line, they lost hope in themselves, and they stopped coming to school, and they just gave up because nobody was believing.”
But with belief, and the right support, the results speak for themselves.
“Last year, we graduated 25. This year it was 75. Our goal was 50, and we surpassed that. Our kids are working really, really hard,” Markgraf shared. “We’re hoping that we have another 40 graduates by the end of the summer to earn their 2025 diploma as well.”
Through flexible scheduling, dedicated mentors and holistic support, Lee County Acceleration Academies is creating a space where students feel seen, heard and empowered. This graduation ceremony wasn’t just about handing out diplomas, it was a celebration of perseverance, personal growth and the belief that every student deserves a second chance and a flexible path forward.
