As she nears her high school graduation—two years early—Kadie showed PA Cyber pride through a heartfelt community service project: creating 100 care packages for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. Coming from a first responder family, she knows firsthand how hard these professionals work. Her mother is a retired firefighter, and her father is an EMT who worked through COVID. “I didn't get to see my dad a lot [during the pandemic],” Kadie recalls. “Sometimes he and his fellow workers couldn't even stop to get lunch or dinner.”
Kadie designed graphics for the bags and had them printed with the words “EMS: The Invisible Heroes.” Each bag contains hygiene items and gift cards. In November, she gifted the bags to the Lehigh Valley Health Network EMS in Hazleton.
This spring, Kadie will graduate from high school two years early due to her working ahead in asynchronous courses. She’s been enrolled in PA Cyber since kindergarten, and the flexibility has allowed her to explore her interests. She says, “At PA Cyber, I am the puzzle piece that always fits.”
Kadie, who has autism spectrum disorder and experiences anxiety, has thrived in PA Cyber’s self-paced environment. She and her family view her autism as a strength because it enables her to focus deeply and devour information. She has a depth of hockey knowledge. She can recite rosters of several NHL and AHL teams from memory.
After graduation, Kadie plans to attend college to become a teacher or graphic designer. She received early acceptance to Thomas Jefferson University and Southern New Hampshire University. No matter which path she chooses, Kadie’s curiosity, kindness, and dedication promise a bright future for herself—and for those around her.
Find your fit with PA Cyber. There’s still time to enroll for the 2025-2026 school year. Visit pacyber.org or call 724-643-1180.
