GHS seniors bare college choices as part of First Lady's strategem

Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Greencastle High School seniors line the hall in efforts to promote National College Signing Day which took place on May 1. The event, founded and promoted by Michelle Obama, is intended to surround high school graduates with encouragment to seek further education. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

In coordination with Michelle Obama's Reach Higher initiative, seniors at Greencastle High School recently wore shirts, sweaters and hoodies proudly displaying the respective universities each plans to attend this fall.

The program, titled National College Signing Day, comes straight from the top as the First Lady endeavors to encourage graduates to attend college and "complete" their overall education.

"There's nothing more important to this nation's future than investing in our young people," Obama said in an official Signing Day video at whitehouse.gov. "Education is at the top of the priority list."

Whenever a student is undecided what school he or she will attend, a flurry of questions inevitably surround the young person. Exposing them to college life and career opportunities, Obama said, is essential.

"As adults and as administrators, we now know that we have to put our efforts where our knowledge is," she said. "We have to make sure young people understand that reality as well."

GHS Guidance Assistant and Scholarship Coordinator Brenda Meyer made the Banner Graphic aware of the students' efforts, citing the effect such a program can have for every high school student, not only seniors.

"The campaign at GHS may be centered around our seniors, who we are very proud of, but it has also created an awareness on our younger students who notice the different schools and opportunities," she said.

"Over half of our seniors have decided where they'll be attending school (this) fall -- many will stay in state but we have students going coast-to-coast and north-to-south," Meyer continued. "We are having our seniors wear shirts of the colleges they're planning to attend and thought it would be great to let others know about the program."

"Senior Hall" currently dominates the scene at Greencastle High School as part of National College Signing Day, a program initiated by Michelle Obama and her Reach Higher campaign. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

A Twitter campaign is also part of the Reach Higher initiative. Using the hashtag #ReachHigher, students were encouraged by many, including the president's wife, to post images of themselves displaying their college choice(s) on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to promote the cause.

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