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During McKenzie Akers' valedictorian address Thursday, she said many people believe getting a high school education through home-schooling is going against the grain.

"Home-schooling is not a trivial task. It is not a task for the faint of heart," Akers said.

"We are evidence that home-schooling is a legitimate way to get a high school education," she said, speaking to the 2009 graduating class of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Connections Program.

In fact, among the 45 students from the Homer, Seward and central peninsula regions who walked across the Soldotna High School auditorium stage, several are University of Alaska scholars, one has been accepted into the U.S. Navy special forces program, one will be heading to the University of Alaska Anchorage justice program in the Honors College and one has been selected to serve an internship in Washington, D.C., with Sen. Lisa Murkowski before going abroad to study international relations, politics and French at Franklin College in Lugano, Switzerland.

Although 45 graduates crossed the stage during the formal graduation ceremony, a total of 93 students were listed as Connections Class of 2009 graduates.

Akers told the attending graduates their parents knew they could offer them a quality education.

"Many of you know by now, home-schooling requires self-discipline," she said. "Patience, humility and self-discipline are qualities that will bring us fruits through life."

Graduate Camilla Moore echoed Akers' assessment when she thanked her mom "for teaching me about life, not just about school."

Homer graduate Kelsey Waldorf, who has been home-schooled since seventh grade, received a number of surprises when she came up on stage to receive her diploma.

In addition to being named a University of Alaska Scholar, Waldorf learned she was selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Alaska Peace Officers Association.

In making the presentation, Kenai Police Lt. Kim Wannamaker said the scholarship is "reloaded for three years," making it a $4,000 award.

Waldorf also was surprised to receive the Drama, Debate and Forensics Black Hat award, which carries with it a $500 scholarship; and she received a $1,000 scholarship from the Kachemak Board of Realtors.

Involved in drama, debate and forensics for three years, Waldorf said one of the difficulties in being home-schooled is finding a balance between academic study and social activities "because you don't have a class to be with every day."

"But you are given the challenge to do what you want with your education or not," she said.

After completing a course of study in justice at UAA, she plans to seek a career with the FBI.

A Navy deployment awaits Mark Adams, who split his high school years between Seward High and the Connections Program.

He's already contracted for eight years in the Navy -- six on active duty -- and expects his deployment to be moved from March 2010, to December of this year because he has opted to go into special forces training.

Adams already has pre-qualified for the Navy SEALS program and said he does not plan to ring the famous beach bell in San Diego, Calif., indicating he is washing out of the program.

When asked if she has any fears about seeking employment during the current economic downturn, Soldotna graduate Cady Johnson said she doesn't.

Planning to enter the health care field through Job Corps, Johnson said, "Health care is one of the only jobs that's booming, because of the baby boomers."

She hopes to be trained in phlebotomy, and if she likes it, she will possibly go into anesthesiology.

Homer graduate Lloyd Moore also said he has no fears about the economy.

He plans to go to AVTEC in Seward to learn to be an industrial electrician. When asked if any family members were electricians, he said his grandfather was "for 20-some years."

When former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens visited the Skyview High School campus last year, the idea was planted in Caitlin Baalke to become a Washington intern.

She applied to the Alaska delegation and was selected by Sen. Murkowski to serve a one-month internship in the nation's capitol from June 1 to 26.

Baalke doesn't know the senator, she has never spoken to her and she has never been to Washington, but she's ready for the challenge.

"I'm double-majoring in international relations and politics," she said and she sees herself getting into politics one day.

During his opening remarks Thursday afternoon, Connections Principal Lee Young said, "Connections likes to highlight the talents of our students."

As part of the program, Simon Nagle performed a jazz piano solo, Yuri Nagle played a classical guitar piece, Jaclyn Arndt played "Take Five" by Paul Desmond on piano, and McKenzie Akers and Kelsey Waldorf performed a "Lovers' Waltz" duet with Akers on piano and Waldorf on violin.

During a slide show of seniors then and now, lyrics of one song included the line:

"Be careful what you wish for; history starts now."