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they leave. Many of our seniors walk away with internships and valuable connections." Fusion has partnered with Harbor Media where students are working to write and produce their own television show. Others are seizing opportunities for experience through Fusion's field trips to NASA STEM fairs, Red Sox games, behind the scenes working at the Franklin Park Zoo, and more. Some students, such as 14-year-old George Mattison, have even started their own businesses while here at Fusion. Inspired by his neighbor's battle with cancer, George was recently honored by the Boston Celtics for their Heroes Among Us program for building a car wash business which donates a portion of proceeds to cancer research. "George received a standing ovation in front of thousands during halftime which showed a tremendous amount of growth and we're all really proud of him. He's a great example of how Fusion can help fulfill a student's potential academically, socially, and emotionally," adds Weaver. As the only school of its kind in the South Shore, Fusion Academy Hingham has students traveling to attend classes all the way from Cape Cod and Providence, Rhode Island. Anybody that's ever sat in the Cape traffic understands what a testament this is to Fusion Academy's revolutionary path to fulfilling education for students beyond the transcript. One of the most important pieces that Fusion Academy has to offer families is the view of our students as whole individuals. "That's why no graduating senior leaves without taking our wellness program. We want our students to know how to care for themselves as empathetic, kind people who will go out and do good in the world. That's what matters most." For more information on Fusion Academy Hingham or to schedule a tour of the campus, please contact Jacob Weaver at: jweaver@ fusionacademy.com. Jacob Weaver, founding Head of School at Fusion Academy Hingham, is no stranger to walking the nontraditional path to success. For his students at Fusion, his hope is to guide them along these remarkable and often offbeat paths to find success of their own. After losing his left eye in a drive-by shooting when he was just 15 years old, Weaver wasted no time in starting a mentoring and leadership development program for his fellow youth struggling with trauma. "I used to say that the drive-by was about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that was before I realized it helped me discover my calling. I now believe I was in the right place at the right time. I guess you could say it helped me see the world differently," Weaver says with a smile. "That's the beauty of a school like Fusion. A lot of kids are falling through the cracks in traditional educational systems when they're in need of close mentorship." Centrally located across from the Derby Street shops off Route 3, Fusion Academy Hingham, the 60th Fusion Academy campus in the country, specializes in one-to-one, customized education for grades 6-12. Fusion offers a variety of programs from full-time enrollment, individual classes for credit, and tutoring/mentoring sessions during the academic year and throughout the summer. This gives students an opportunity to catch up from their school year, get ahead, or even explore new interests. "All in a given day, a student could take music production, then forensic science or cinematography, and end the day with calculus, social entrepreneurship, or any of our 250+ classes for credit." The type of care and attention for students at Fusion Academy Hingham stretches beyond basic student assessment and adapted learning. Weaver explains that Fusion educators are not only experts in their content area - as the building is filled with world- class musicians, award-winning cinematographers and authors, physicists, engineers, behavioral therapists, PhDs and EdDs – but more importantly, they are educators dedicated to becoming lifelong mentors to every student who passes through Fusion. "That was one of my main goals when I opened the school," Weaver claims, "to have every student leave here with a lifelong mentor." As someone who knows well the importance of mentorship while walking the offbeat path to self-discovery, Jacob Weaver cultivates both an exploratory and educational atmosphere at Fusion Academy Hingham. Students are given the chance for real world experience outside of the classroom. "We tie classroom experiences to opportunities in the community so that students can gain a better idea of what they'd like to pursue while attending school and after BEYOND THE TRANSCRIPT: A closer look at Fusion Academy Hingham and its founding Head of School. 34