College Decision Day

West Ashley High School seniors who are attending a college or university in the fall were invited by the Wildcat P.R.E.S.S. Team and the WAHS Guidance Department to participate in the first-ever College Decision Day in the school’s main gymnasium and cafeteria on Thursday, May 19.
The goal of College Decision Day is to recognize high school seniors for their postsecondary plans and encourage younger students and families to prepare early for their postsecondary education. College Decision Day was inspired by the NCAA’s National Signing Day to reinforce the idea that excellence in the classroom should be given the same attention and recognition as excellence in athletics.
College Decision Day is part of the College Decision Day South Carolina Movement that aims to celebrate the academic accomplishments and college decisions of graduating high school seniors. The event was also inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative, which encourages educators, counselors, and other adults to help students see advancing to college after they graduate from high school as an affordable, viable option.
Of the 98 seniors who attended the event, 37 different colleges and universities ranging from Clemson University to the University of South Carolina and Northeastern to New York University were represented.
In order for seniors to participate they had to sign up in the School Counseling Office by bringing in their college acceptance letter or letter of intent for the military. On the day of the event, students were required to wear a T-shirt or a hat that represented their school or military branch in order to attend.
During the event, students were individually recognized according to the college they will attend and were asked to sign a college word banner to symbolize their achievement and commitment.
After the individual recognition portion, students were broken up into groups so they could rotate through various stations. The stations included the following activities: tug-of-war between rival colleges, relay races, a hot shot basketball shootout, a photo booth where students from each college took a group photo, and a video station where students were recorded saying that they were part of WAHS’s graduating Class of 2016 and then name the college which they are attending in the fall. These statements will later be used on Twitter or other social media platforms to promote WAHS students and highlight their accomplishments.