College Signing Day celebration not just for star athletes anymore
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—College-bound academic stars in Kalamazoo County will come together Monday, May 2, at Western Michigan University to announce the names of the colleges or universities to which they've committed for fall 2016.
About 1,500-1,800 graduating seniors from all Kalamazoo County high schools will gather at 9:30 a.m. in WMU's University Arena to celebrate their post-graduation plans. The students will be congratulated by Michigan State Superintendent Brian J. Whiston, Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, and the presidents of three area colleges--WMU's John M. Dunn, Kalamazoo College's Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran and Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Marilyn Schlack. Representatives from 10 of the 15 public universities and from additional Michigan and out-of-state colleges and universities will be on hand as well.
Kalamazoo County College Signing Day
Kalamazoo County College Signing Day, which is being organized by Western Michigan University and the College and Career Action Network of Kalamazoo County, is intended for all graduating seniors in the county. Activities during the two-hour event will include performances by a WMU Greek organization, the Loy Norrix Drumline, Portage Central Choir, local D.J. Chuck Welch and a surprise guest artist. The keynote talk at the celebration will be delivered by Dr. D.F. Arnold, a motivational speaker who specializes in personal and professional development.
"Students should come expecting a high-energy atmosphere," says Andre Carr, WMU assistant director of admissions and one of the principal event organizers. "We'll have some surprises to share, and we're going to focus on the post-graduation plans of all students."
This is the second major College Signing Day in Michigan. The first was held last May at Detroit's Wayne State University with First Lady Michelle Obama as a special guest to launch the initiative and preside over a citywide signing day. The May date for the local event was chosen to reflect the traditional May 1 deadline for students to accept admissions offers. A national College Signing Day promoted by the First Lady has been held each of the past three years, with this year's focus April 26 on an event in New York City.
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