Former Homeschoolers, Future Stars

Snowboarding sensation Sage Kotsenburgisn’t the only Alpha Omega Academy graduate who generated headlines in 2014, nor is he the only one we can expect to see at the next Olympics.

Recently named the top-ranked junior female epee fencer in the United States, 18-year-old Amanda Sirico has publicly proclaimed her intent to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics fencing team.

In her final season before heading to college, the former homeschooler competed in world cups in France, Germany, Spain, Qatar, Brazil, Cuba, and Costa Rica. She also ranked fifth on the senior circuit in the U.S.

The Bowie, Maryland, native has been fencing since childhood. She enrolled at AOA to divide her time between academics and training.

“Fencing led me to look into Alpha Omega Academy’s program, and research into the school's program and values led me to enroll,” Sirico said. “AOA has definitely helped me in achieving my goals both academically and athletically.”

Sirico isn’t the only AOA grad who is number one in her field. Currently at the top in the country/pop genre on ReverbNation, Nashville recording artist and former Radio Disney star Celeste Kellogg could very well become the next famous face among the AOA alumni.  

With a voice that’s been compared to Shania Twain’s, Kellogg is one of several popular, millennial musicians on the Allstar Nation Tour, a peer-to-peer anti-bullying music campaign that will hit over 100 Texas schools beginning this month.

“Anything I can personally do to help others gives me a sense of accomplishment that I am helping change lives in a positive way,” Kellogg said.

The 20-year-old knew she would be a singer as a child performing in the church choir. At age 12, she landed a spot in Radio Disney’s tween pop group RD7, and in 2009, Kellogg switched from public school to AOA. Homeschooling allowed her to tour and tackle projects like the 2010 film No Limit Kids: Much Ado about Middle School, in which she starred and sang on the soundtrack. 

“With my singing career, I started traveling all the time. With the travel I missed a lot of my freshman year in public school,” said Kellogg, who received the academy’s student of the month award in November 2011. “The two traits that I enjoy most about AOA are how you can do school anywhere and that the teachers are so helpful.”

More about the Grads
-Sage Kotsenburg won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in men’s snowboard slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He graduated from AOA in 2011.

-Amanda Sirico plans to study anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, where she will also compete on the varsity fencing team. The Fighting Irish were ranked fourth nationally at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 fencing season. Amanda graduated from AOA in 2014.

-Celeste Kellogg begins touring with the Allstar Nation Tour this month. She has released an EP, “Broken Record,” and a single, “The Look.” Celeste graduated from AOA in 2012.