Signing day planned for seniors’ academic, military successes

Seniors at Demopolis High School will be recognized as they commit to college or military service at DHS’s inaugural College Signing Day on April 13 from 9-10 a.m. at the school auditorium.

“For the first time here at DHS, we’re going to take the time to recognize the commitment,” said Patrick George, DHS’s career coach.

With over 180 seniors at the high school, George is hoping for 100 students to participate.

George said that this day will show students that “we also hold academic achievements and success and we hold military achievement important.”

According to George, at signing day students will participate in an “informal signing of commitment and signing of a banner to celebrate for years to come.”

The banner will be hung in the school to show other students their achievements, encouraging others to follow that example and make a post-graduation commitment. Following the signing day, there will be pictures and a reception per college.

George said that DHS also benefits from the signing day because they don’t always know what their students commit to, especially the students that commit to military service.

“It helps us as a school community knowing where our kids are going come May,” he said.

Adapted from Better Make Room, a campaign launched by Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative, College Signing Day honors students’ academic success and their commitments to either higher education or military service.

Amanda Barnes, Executive Director of the Demopolis City Schools Foundation, and Traci Pearson, DHS’s 11th and 12th grade counselor, suggested that DHS host its own College Signing Day.

“We don’t recognize our kids enough sometimes, and this is just saying ‘thank you’ for making that commitment,” George said.

Students are allowed to bring as many family members as they want as well as two non-family guests.

For more information, call George at 334-289-0294 ext. 5261.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, March 28 issue of the Demopolis Times.)