Student Spotlight: Michael La Starza

The Perfect Hat Trick - High School Graduation, College Acceptance, and the NHL Draft  

Apex Learning has been the virtual school of choice for Michael La Starza since 2014. Michael enjoys being able to do his schoolwork around his hockey schedule instead of a traditional school bell schedule. Michael shares how ALVS has helped give him organizational skills that he is able to apply to aspects of his everyday life, such as hockey and his summer schedule.

He is a class of 2022 Apex Learning graduate and is committed to playing Division 1 hockey at Boston University with a full scholarship. High school graduation and college acceptance are great accomplishments, but Michael is particularly looking forward to being eligible for this year’s 2022 NHL Draft.

 It’s no surprise that Michael is projected to be drafted this year. He has been described as ”one of the best skaters in the USHL” and scored 44 points in just 57 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede. In 2020, Michael signed a tender agreement to play with the Waterloo Black Hawks. He then went on to play for the USHL Sioux Falls Stampede in the left-wing position and will continue to play with them for another year.

In August of 2020, he announced his commitment to play Division 1 college hockey at Boston University but is excited for the results of the NHL draft.

Michael says, “being drafted anywhere by anyone would be a great honor for me.” After the draft, he is looking forward to celebrating with family and friends. This summer he has plans to continue training hard but also take some time to relax while visiting his family's cottage on the weekends.

Apex Learning  is so proud to recognize our student-athlete graduates and is looking forward to following his hockey career in college and beyond.

To learn more about how Apex Learning supports junior hockey players like Michael, please visit our Junior Hockey page.

Do you have an Apex Learning success story to share? Please reach out to jill.shuster@edmentum.com and you may be featured next!