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Student Spotlight Blog: Ilyannie – A Rising Star at Washington Virtual Academies

Stories & Spotlights
A person standing in front of a microphone

At just 12 years old, Ilyannie, an 8th-grade student at Washington Virtual Academies, is making big waves in the Pacific Northwest in academics, music, coding, and civic engagement. Living in Port Orchard, Washington, Ilyannie initially enrolled at Washington Virtual Academies during the pandemic. The decision to remain fully online stuck as the flexibility of online learning has allowed her to fully embrace her many passions.

Thriving in an Online Learning Environment

For Ilyannie, Washington Virtual Academies has been more than just a school—it’s been a launchpad for her ambitions. She says, “I appreciate that no time is wasted in an online school environment – it’s given me the freedom to structure my day and dedicate time to excelling in music, technology, and leadership.” Her parents’ decision to keep her in online education was also influenced by her deep concern for school safety, a topic she has actively championed through civic engagement.

A Passion for Music: An Award-Winning Pianist

With her extra time, Ilyannie has pursued competitive piano, recently joining the Bremerton West Sound Symphony and earning the prestigious Conductor’s Award. Her talent has been recognized internationally, with achievements including:

With her extra time, Ilyannie has pursued competitive piano, recently joining the Bremerton West Sound Symphony and earning the prestigious Conductor’s Award. Her talent has been recognized internationally, with achievements including:

A person playing a piano
  • Distinguished Gold Medalist at the Classical Viennese International Piano Festival (June 2024)
  • Silver Medalist at the Bach and Charleston International Piano Festivals (November 2024)
  • First Place Highest Honors at the Crescendo International Piano Competition, where she will perform at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in March 2025
  • Distinguished Gold Medalist at the Classical Viennese International Piano Festival (June 2024)
  • Silver Medalist at the Bach and Charleston International Piano Festivals (November 2024)
  • First Place Highest Honors at the Crescendo International Piano Competition, where she will perform at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in March 2025

A Trailblazer in Coding and STEM

Ilyannie’s passion for technology and coding has led her to remarkable accomplishments. She is taking an enrichment coding class outside of her regular school curriculum and has used her skills to excel in national competitions. Her achievements include:

K12 innovation challenge - 1st place
  • National Innovation Challenge Overall Champion and People’s Choice Awardee (June 2024), which took her to Washington, D.C. to present her work.
  • Proficiency in Business Intelligence, Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with a current focus on Artificial Intelligence coding.
  • Spearheading and coding the Washington Virtual Academies Middle School ASB Newsletter and leading the ASB Journalism Team.

Civic Engagement and Public Speaking

Ilyannie’s dedication to civic involvement is just as impressive as her academic and musical feats. She has competed in the National Civics Bee, winning at the state level and securing a Top 10 finish at the National Championship (November 2024). Take a read of her Memoir, published by the Association of Washington Business: An Experience of a Lifetime: My Civics Bee Memoir.

A person standing in front of a microphone

She also won first place overall in the Local Civics Bee, and the state championship where she tackled the issue of gun violence and school safety.

Her proposed solutions, including youth education, lobbying efforts, and an anonymous reporting system, earned her the opportunity to deliver a speech to her Mayor and later at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Inspired by these experiences, she is now launching an ASB Civic Engagement Club at Washington Virtual Academies to encourage other students to get involved in their communities. 

Academic Excellence and Leadership

Ilyannie’s drive for learning extends beyond traditional coursework. She is currently:

  • A Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Finalist, selected as one of the top 50 gifted students nationwide.
  • Simultaneously studying Honors Algebra 2 at Washington Virtual Academies and Pre-Calculus (Arizona State University Global).
  • Taking Honors English 10 and 10th grade U.S. History at Washington Virtual Academies.
  • Engaging in advanced writing analysis and persuasion at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.
  • A two-time elected student leader at Washington Virtual Academies, actively working to enhance student engagement and leadership initiatives.

A Published Author from an Early Age

Ilyannie is also a published author, having written her first book at just seven years old. Her passion for storytelling continues to grow as she refines her writing skills through advanced courses and her editorial work with the ASB Journalism Team.

Looking Ahead

With her eyes set on the future, Ilyannie continues to push boundaries in multiple fields. Whether she’s coding, performing on the piano, competing in national competitions, or advocating for important social issues, one thing is clear—she is a force to be reckoned with.

Washington Virtual Academies has provided her with the flexibility and support to thrive, and she is making the most of every opportunity. Her journey is an inspiration to students everywhere, proving that with passion, dedication, and the right learning environment, anything is possible.

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