PA Virtual Celebrates 2026 Senior Capstone Spotlight Award Recipients

At PA Virtual, students are encouraged to explore their interests, pursue their passions, and create projects that have a meaningful impact. Through the Senior Capstone Project, students have the opportunity to take what they have learned and apply it to real-world experiences while developing skills that will help them succeed beyond graduation.

We are proud to celebrate our 2026 Senior Capstone Spotlight Award recipients and recognize Joanna McCready, Alexis T., Jaron A., Tashaun M., and Jacob F. for their creativity, dedication, leadership, and commitment to making a difference.

Joanna M.: Turning Compassion Into Community Action

Congratulations to Joanna McCready, one of our Senior Capstone Spotlight Award recipients!

For her Senior Capstone Project, Joanna organized and hosted a community cornhole tournament benefiting Blood Cancer United. Over the course of eight weeks, she planned every aspect of the event, including promotion, volunteer coordination, team registration, and event logistics.

Her hard work brought together 12 teams, volunteers, and community members while raising more than $1,800 to support individuals and families affected by blood cancer.

Through this project, Joanna strengthened her leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills while discovering the powerful role that empathy, compassion, and community support play in healthcare. The experience reinforced her passion for serving others and deepened her commitment to pursuing a career in pediatric oncology.

After graduation, Joanna plans to continue her education with the goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist, where she hopes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.

We are incredibly proud of Joanna for turning her passion for helping others into meaningful action and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition!

Jaron A.: Exploring the World of Student Apartment Account Management

Congratulations to Jaron A., one of our Senior Capstone Spotlight 2026 Award recipients!

For his Senior Capstone Project, Jaron explored Account Management for Student Apartments through a mentorship experience at Meta Christy House, the student housing community for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Working alongside the property management team, Jaron gained firsthand insight into the financial, operational, and relationship-building aspects of managing a large student apartment community.

Throughout the project, Jaron discovered that accounting and account management involve much more than numbers. He observed leasing operations, financial recordkeeping, vendor management, and customer service while learning how communication, organization, and strong professional relationships contribute to successful business operations.

As part of his experience, Jaron developed a move-in and move-out tracking system to help organize more than 200 apartment units. Through this hands-on opportunity, he strengthened his skills in organization, problem-solving, and business management while gaining a deeper understanding of potential career pathways.

Jaron’s capstone demonstrates the value of real-world learning experiences and how exploring different industries can help students discover their passions and future goals.

Alexis T.: Creating a Platform for Mental Health Advocacy

Congratulations to Alexis T., one of our Senior Capstone Spotlight Award recipients!

For her Senior Capstone Project, Alexis created The Seen Project, a mental and invisible illness advocacy organization dedicated to helping individuals feel seen, supported, and understood.

What began as a personal journey grew into a powerful platform featuring a blog, podcast, and social media presence focused on raising awareness and encouraging meaningful conversations about mental health and invisible illnesses. Through The Seen Project, Alexis transformed adversity into advocacy and created a space where individuals can connect, share their experiences, and find support.

Alexis hopes to grow The Seen Project into a national initiative that supports students across the country and continues to promote understanding and awareness surrounding mental health and invisible illnesses.

After graduation, Alexis plans to pursue a degree in communications, combining her passions for photography, graphic design, and advocacy into a meaningful career.

We are incredibly proud of Alexis for using her voice to make a difference and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition!

Jacob F.: Bringing an Entrepreneurial Vision to Life

Congratulations to Jacob F., one of our Senior Capstone Spotlight Award recipients!

For his Senior Capstone Project, Jacob completed a student-led enterprise by creating The Club Casablanca, a simulated vintage venue inspired by the Golden Era of Jazz (1910s–1940s).

Working closely with his mentor, Jacob developed a comprehensive business plan exploring every aspect of launching and operating the venue, including selecting a location, securing financing, restaurant operations, staffing, marketing, licensing, and customer experience.

Throughout the project, Jacob gained valuable experience in entrepreneurship, business planning, project management, budgeting, market research, and leadership. His work demonstrated how creativity, careful planning, and collaboration can transform a passion into a realistic business concept.

Jacob’s capstone reflects his appreciation for history and his entrepreneurial mindset, showcasing the dedication and attention to detail required to bring a unique vision to life.

We are incredibly proud of Jacob for his innovative approach and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition!

Tashaun M.: Making an Impact Through Community Service

Congratulations to Tashaun M., one of our Senior Capstone Spotlight 2026 Award recipients!

For his Senior Capstone Project, “Combatting Food Insecurity in My Local Community,” Tashaun volunteered with Hunger-Free York at Living Word Community Church, helping distribute food to individuals and families in need throughout York County.

Through his volunteer experience, Tashaun loaded and organized food boxes, assisted community members during distribution, and worked alongside a dedicated team of volunteers to help address food insecurity in his local community.

Throughout the project, Tashaun strengthened his teamwork, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the important role community organizations play in supporting local families.

His experience also showed him that meaningful service is built on empathy, reliability, and a willingness to step outside of his comfort zone to make a difference. Tashaun’s capstone highlights the impact that students can have when they use their time and talents to support others.

We are incredibly proud of Tashaun for his commitment to serving his community and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition!

Celebrating Student Success Through Real-World Learning

The Senior Capstone Project highlights the incredible opportunities available to PA Virtual students to explore their interests, develop professional skills, and create meaningful change. From community service and advocacy to entrepreneurship, Joanna, Alexis, Jaron, Tashaun and Jacob each demonstrated the creativity, determination, and passion that make their accomplishments so inspiring.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 Senior Capstone Spotlight Award recipients! We cannot wait to see the impact they will continue to make in the future.