It was an evening of celebration as faculty of the Commonwealth Connections Academy bestowed nearly 100 students with graduation honors.

The graduation ceremony, held at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe June 10, was the sixth graduating class for the academy. In addition to this ceremony, three others are being held at sites in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh to honor the hundreds of cyberschool students that comprise the Class of 2014.

Speakers at the ceremony included Tony Rusnak, CCA's high school principal; graduates Mackenzie Steudler and Mikayla Nester; and Dr. Maurice Flurie III, CEO of CCA.

Rusnak welcomed family, friends, faculty and graduates to the ceremony before introducing Steudler and Nester to the podium.

Steudler spoke about the anticipation of graduating and looking at things not as if they are impossible, but as a challenge that can be overcome with dedication and determination.

"In life we are presented with challenges that largely revolve around uncertainty," she told her classmates. "We were prepared for challenges in high school. We broke down molecular formulas and worked with imaginary numbers. No matter how daunting these things seemed, not one of those things was impossible. Yes, they were certainly difficult, but they were not unachievable. Accomplishing these tasks inspired in us confidence; the confidence that no matter the obstacle, in our education, or in life, we will be able to accomplish our goals.

Nester spoke about their time at Commonwealth Connections Academy and the lessons they learned.

"Today we have the good feel factor that comes from knowing that we have done our best," she said.

She ended with a quote by Dr. Seuss that she believed were words to live by.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where to go," Nester read.

Flurie thanked the graduates for working hard and choosing cyberschool for their education.

"We are proud of you," he said. "Your diploma at CCA will open many doors to you. What will you do when you walk through that door?"

Flurie urged the students to share their stories and the unique educational environment that cyber charter schools have to offer.