Send us a text Omolade is GCA’s 2025 Valedictorian—but her story goes beyond grades. She’s an encourager, an athlete, and a future nurse with a mindset built on faith, hard work, and heart. In this episode, she shares how she stayed grounded, what helped her push through, and why showing up as yourself matters most. Enjoy the show. 🎙️ Hootworthy: The Podcast That Gives a Hoot We’re all about spotlighting the incredible students and faculty of GCA—their achievements, passions, and stories that d...
Apr 18, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Send us a text Malaki didn’t even want to try Taekwondo at first. A year later, he’s undefeated and a national champ. In this episode, we talk about how he pushed past doubt, stayed focused under pressure, and built the mindset that took him from nervous beginner to confident competitor. 🎙️ Hootworthy: The Podcast That Gives a Hoot We’re all about spotlighting the incredible students and faculty of GCA—their achievements, passions, and stories that deserve to be heard. Watch full episodes on Yo...
Mar 28, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Send us a text Lily didn’t grow up dreaming of aerial silks—she just decided to give it a shot. What started as a Christmas gift quickly turned into a passion, but the journey wasn’t easy. From failed first attempts ( she’s not submitting video proof ) to pushing past self-doubt in a room full of trained aerialists, Lily’s story is about persistence, creativity, and proving to yourself that you’re capable of more than you think. Tune in as she shares the highs, the struggles, and the unexpected ...
Feb 28, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Send us a text Hootworthy Students Ellie and Arwen Soar at GCA’s 2024 Science and Social Studies Fair Georgia Cyber Academy students Ellie and Arwen took home top honors for secondary grades at the 2024 Social Studies and Science Fair held at the Tellus Museum. Ellie’s science project explored how train weight impacts speed, while Arwen’s social studies project highlighted the innovations and impacts of World War I. Inspiration Behind the Projects Ellie was inspired by a video in class on electr...
Jan 31, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Send us a text In our recent Hootworthy interview, we chatted with Kayleigh, a 7th grader at GCA who's making waves in both the horse eventing and entrepreneurial worlds. Kayleigh started riding horses at the age of five, and her love for horses led her to the exciting sport of horse eventing. Her ten-year-old horse, Bold, has been her trusty companion for the past two years and is a big fan of the horse treats she makes. Kayleigh's horse treats business began four years ago when she wanted to m...
Nov 21, 2024•20 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Send us a text In our latest Hootworthy interview, we chatted with Abby, a 2023 GCA graduate who found great success through GCA's work-based learning program at Zaxby’s. Abby’s journey began in 10th grade when she started working at Zaxby’s and later joined the Work-Based Learning Program thanks to a teacher’s suggestion. This program allowed her to balance work and school effectively, earning credit hours while gaining valuable on-the-job experience. Abby set her sights on becoming an assistan...
Nov 06, 2024•16 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Send us a text In our latest Hootworthy interview, GCA students Jack, Michael, Gabe, and Joey shared their exciting journey of becoming published authors. From adventurous frogs and missing brothers to a popcorn-obsessed boy and a fox finding its way home, their creative stories and unique challenges offer a glimpse into their imaginative worlds. Balancing school and writing, these young authors have shown that with drive and support, anything is possible. 🎙️ Hootworthy: The Podcast That Gives ...
Sep 26, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Send us a text In our latest Hootworthy interview, we caught up with Luke, a 10th grader at GCA, who’s making waves in the gymnastics world. Luke is not just any gymnast; he competes in Trampoline, Double-Mini, and Tumbling at the Junior Elite level. With only three other athletes in the U.S. achieving this level across all three events, Luke’s accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary. You can check out Luke’s bio here . One of Luke’s standout achievements is being crowned the 2023 Tum...
Aug 29, 2024•16 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Send us a text In our recent Hootworthy episode, we caught up with Yusuf, GCA's 2024 Valedictorian. He shared some interesting insights into his journey to the top, what motivates him, and his future plans. Yusuf’s uniqueness stems from his drive for excellence, rooted in his search for deeper meaning in life because he believes you can’t have excellence without purpose. He grounds his purpose in his faith and in making a positive impact on society. Despite facing personal challenges like his mo...
May 16, 2024•19 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Send us a text In our latest Hootworthy podcast episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Noah, who recently earned the title of Sumter County Fire Rescue Post #343 Explorer of the Year. He noted that this award means that if he works hard, then he can accomplish great things in fire rescue. Noah's journey reveals that a strong purpose and work ethic can lead to success. Joining the fire department's explorer program and training for firefighting and emergency medical services was a thrill f...
Apr 23, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Send us a text In the latest episode of Hootworthy, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Emalee, an eighth-grader at GCA who is making waves in the world of horse barrel racing. Inspired by her love for horses and the thrill of the rodeo, Emalee embarked on her barrel racing journey in 2020 after attending a rodeo and being captivated by the event's speed and daring nature. For Emalee, barrel racing isn't just about racing around barrels; it's about building a deep connection with her horse,...
Mar 28, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Send us a text In our most recent Hootworthy podcast episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with Ms. Marian Hoyt, GCA's 2023 Teacher of the Year. With over a decade of teaching experience, including three years at GCA, Ms. Hoyt brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the classroom. When asked about her time-travel destination, Ms. Hoyt’s imagination took her back to the 1700s in the United States. She envisioned herself amidst the passionate debates surrounding the Constitution, intri...
Feb 29, 2024•19 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Send us a text In our latest Hootworthy episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Autumn, an eighth-grader at GCA who is also a compassionate cat rescuer. Her journey into the world of cat rescuing began when a family property became a refuge for a feral cat colony. Autumn, alongside her grandmother, embarked on a mission to rescue kittens and prepare them for their forever homes. With three years of professional cat rescue experience and a total of eight years dedicated to the cause, Autumn...
Feb 01, 2024•17 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Send us a text In our latest Hootworthy podcast episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Braylen, a talented 10th grader who crafts captivating Lego stop-motion films. We first discovered Braylen's skill when he submitted a video for GCA's Got Talent, our annual virtual showcase. Little did we know, he already had a collection of over 130 videos on his YouTube channel, Epic Brick Films. Braylen's stop-motion process involves detailed steps: constructing sets, selecting figurines, scripting ...
Nov 30, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Send us a text On the latest episode of Hootworthy, we had the pleasure of hosting Shawna, a 2023 graduate of GCA, who achieved 3rd place at the 4-H State Congress competition during the summer. In our conversation, we explored the world of 4-H youth clubs and the valuable experiences they offer. These clubs delve into a wide array of subjects, from STEM to healthy living and leadership, providing numerous opportunities for young learners to compete and engage in exciting activities. Shawna's jo...
Oct 26, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Send us a text In the latest episode of Hootworthy, we had the incredible opportunity to sit down with The BoykinZ, a sensational country music group that's been taking TikTok by storm. What sets them apart? Well, they're not just any band—they're four talented sisters, three of whom graduated from Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), with one still making her way through GCA high school. In our chat, we uncovered how attending GCA influenced their extraordinary journey and the unique bond that makes th...
Sep 28, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Send us a text We kicked off Season 3 of Hootworthy chatting with Mike Kooi, the new superintendent at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA). The conversation gave us a glimpse into the personal and professional side of Mike. For example, if Mike could choose a superpower, he'd go for flying because he loves travelling. It would make family travels with his wife and 16-month-old son much easier. Mike's journey to GCA's superintendent is a different path from most superintendents. Starting as a litigation ...
Aug 31, 2023•17 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Send us a text Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) has many amazing students including Natalia, who recently appeared on the school's podcast, Hootworthy, to share her achievement of earning the title of GCA's Class of 2023 Valedictorian. Natalia spoke about her journey to becoming valedictorian and what it means to her. She highlighted the long nights, dedication, and hard work that paid off to achieve this goal. Aside from being an excellent student, Natalia has a passion for adventure and exploring. ...
May 11, 2023•21 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Send us a text Our latest Hootworthy episode highlights Elon, a 12th grade Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) Champion who earned a scholarship from Jackson State University (JSU) to play soccer! She expressed how much earning this scholarship meant to her, and how it particularly showed her that hard work truly can pay off. Elon began her soccer journey at the age of nine playing in recreation leagues, but quickly moved on to the more competitive select and travel club teams. The travel teams were alw...
May 04, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Send us a text We loved having our latest hootworthy 5th grade Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) Champion on the show, Jack! He created his own YouTube channel, Jumping Jack Productions, where he makes fun videos featuring toy photography or educational videos teaching science and social studies topics. One of the main goals of his YouTube Channel is to inspire others. He came up with the name of his channel one day playing hula-hoop with his brothers. They imagined themselves jumping through the hula...
Mar 30, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Send us a text We love interviewing our incredible students at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) and showcasing them on our podcast: Hootworthy. Karen, a 10th grader at GCA, sat down and discussed her hobby that turned into a surprisingly successful business. In 2020, Karen created her own business, 2UNIQ Collection, where she makes and sells products such as key chains, wristlets, pens, and lanyards. She started with key chains and most recently added lanyards. Her best-selling product is the wristle...
Mar 02, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Send us a text Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) is fortunate to have plenty of talented faculty; Mrs. Amy Blanchard is no exception. Third grade ELA teacher Mrs. Blanchard, who has been with GCA for four years, won the esteemed award of GCA District Teacher of the Year! Throughout her 21 years of teaching experience, this is her first Teacher of the Year title. Winning this award means so much to her; she still feels like it’s surreal. Mrs. Blanchard also noted that it was particularly meaningful bec...
Jan 26, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Send us a text Many of our Champions have hootworthy hobbies, and our most recent interview is no exception! Easton has attended Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) for two years, and when he is not at school, he is busy riding bulls. Easton shared he has been a bull rider for over a year, but he has always wanted to be one ever since he was a kid. This is more than just a hobby for him because he hopes to be in the Professional Bull Riders Organization (PBR) one day. Even though bull riding is referred...
Dec 01, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Send us a text We get to interview many Hootworthy Champions at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), and our latest student is no exception! Xavier, an 11th grader at GCA who has attended since the 6th grade, won first place at the Wells Fargo Junior Investment National Competition awarding him 1,500 dollars! Xavier highlighted that winning the competition taught him that if he puts in the work and limits distractions, he can accomplish anything. The competition was in partnership with a national organi...
Oct 27, 2022•13 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Send us a text Hootworthy had the pleasure of speaking with 10th grade GCA Champion Zeke, who crochets fictional character figurines as a hobby. He got into this unique hobby because of his mom, who created her own crocheting business and taught Zeke how to crochet when he was 7 years old. His crocheting enjoyment, interest, and skill hasn’t stopped growing since. During the show, he surprised us with a crocheted Champ figurine made for the podcast. Zeke highlighted the crocheting materials and ...
Sep 29, 2022•16 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Send us a text We had such a great time sitting down with our 5th grade GCA champion, Kai, to talk about his incredibly hootworthy hobby: Kart racing! Kai competes around the country in the Swift race class that includes go-karts which can reach up to 70 mph! He has participated in over 25 races so far with several top 5 finishes, but winning first-place continues to elude him. Kai got into racing after watching a tv show featuring a Formula One driver going 200 miles an hour. While watching the...
Sep 06, 2022•22 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Send us a text We were so happy to have our hootworthy Valedictorian, Matthew, come on the show to discuss his time at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), his accomplishments, and life outside of school. Matthew has attended GCA since Kindergarten, and he topped off his education with the highest honor. He shared that becoming Valedictorian validated the idea that hard work pays off. From the time he was 15 years old, he has worked 40-hour weeks at Chick-fil-A and played competitive tennis, all the whi...
May 18, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Send us a text We had the pleasure of speaking with Darrese, one of our 12th grade Champions who has attended Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) for the past 5 years. She achieved quite the hootworthy honor and award, as being selected as one of two delegates in the state of Georgia to participate in the United States Senate Youth Program. She was hesitant to apply after not being selected for the Governor's Honors Program the year before, but following a timely phone call from her Dual Enrollment Coun...
Apr 26, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Send us a text We are excited to share our latest Hootworthy episode, an interview with Georgia Cyber Academy’s (GCA) District Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Erica Sims. Mrs. Sims is a Middle School Special Education teacher and will be representing GCA at a state recognition banquet with other District Teachers of the Year in April, where the Georgia Teacher of the Year will be named. She has taught for 10 years, four of those at GCA. This award means so much to Ms. Sims and she is somewhat speechle...
Apr 04, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Send us a text We love sitting down and talking with Hootworthy champions. Nia, a seventh grader at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), published her first book, One Amongst The Runaways , this past January through Amazon direct publishing. Her book is historical fiction set during World War II (WWII), a thriller that includes many plot twists, written in first person omniscience, and took her about a year and a half to complete. The story consists of five characters, though the main character is a gir...
Feb 28, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 9
