Newswise — The Carolina College Advising Corps (CCAC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will host "National Decision Day" events to honor graduating high school seniors and their decision to continue their education. The events, which are being sponsored by the National College Advising Corps (NCAC), will take place on or around May 1, the day most young people must inform a college of their plans to enroll. The festivities in North Carolina will coincide with celebrations in more than 60 partner high schools across the country. In order to be admitted to the event, students must bring evidence of their postsecondary plans in the form of a college acceptance letter, military orders or a similar offer letter.
"Taking the time to celebrate the accomplishments of the students that I've worked with is as rewarding for me as it is for them," said Pharen Bowman, an adviser with the Carolina College Advising Corps, one of NCAC's 12 partner programs. At West Mecklenberg High School in Charlotte, one of two high schools she serves, Bowman will offer T-shirt decorating, a DJ, and a truck with Italian ice for any seniors who provide proof of a college acceptance or similar offer letter.
"This gives us an opportunity to pause in the end-of-the-year chaos and reflect on all we've done together and look forward to the incredible things that await them at their respective colleges and universities," said Bowman.
Decision Day is the brainchild of Ebonie Leonard, second-year CCAC adviser and a Carolina alumna. The event she planned a year ago was so popular with her high school students and Leonard's fellow advisers that the idea was adopted by other advisers across the country who decided to make the program a national event this year.
"At both of the high schools where I serve, there was a very heavy emphasis on celebrating the accomplishments of the athletic teams and the drama department; therefore I felt it was just as important to celebrate the post-high-school decisions of the seniors," said Leonard. "The event was a huge success because it was all about the seniors and the hard work they had done applying to college, getting accepted, and applying for scholarships the entire year. Not only was it a great way to congratulate the seniors, but it was also a great way to promote higher education to 9th-, 10th- and 11th-graders. Decision Day is now an event that everyone at my schools looks forward to and enjoys."
In keeping with President Obama's goal for "every American to pursue some form of education beyond high school," Decision Day aims to celebrate students' success and commitment to postsecondary education or training while encouraging awareness among younger students who may not otherwise consider going to college. According to a recent report, roughly 39 percent of American adults hold a two- or four-year degree at a time when college attainment is becoming increasingly important in today's economy.
"Every student should have the opportunity to attend an institution of higher learning that will serve them well," said Dr. Nicole Hurd, executive director of NCAC. "The Advising Corps is excited to see young people pursue higher education and the purpose of this event is to celebrate high school accomplishments as well as launch them on a path to degree attainment and success."
Launched in 2007 with $12 million from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and additional support from the Lumina Foundation for Education, NCAC aims to increase the number of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students entering and completing higher education. Advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time to help students plan their college searches, complete admissions and financial aid applications, and enroll at schools that will serve them well. The program includes 12 institutional partners: Brown University; Franklin and Marshall College; Pennsylvania State University; Tufts University; the University of Alabama; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Missouri, Columbia; the University of Utah; the University of Virginia; the University of Georgia; the University of Illinois; and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which serves as the program's national headquarters.
As for Bowman's plans next year, she has already decided to return as a CCAC adviser in the fall. "At the beginning of the year, I had a feeling that I would love this job, but I never imagined what a fantastic year it would be and what fantastic students I would have the pleasure of working with."
Following are some of the Decision Day events taking place across North Carolina:
* Warren County High School, WarrentonDate: Wednesday, April 29Time: 2 p.m. " 3 p.m.Adviser: Jennifer FisherActivities: Those who can produce college acceptance letters, military assignments, or full-time employment verification will be invited to an ice cream party. During the party, prizes will be raffled off to assist with the costs involved with transitioning to college. Students will also have an opportunity to announce the college that they will be attending in the fall.
* Hibriten High School, LenoirDate: Thursday, April 30Time: 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.Adviser: Blythe GoughActivities: The day will feature a Hawaiian-themed ice cream buffet and raffle with college T-shirts and "Class of 2009" beach items (towels, flip flops, totes, etc). Seniors will also post their names and the colleges they plan to attend on a giant map.
* Jordan-Matthews High School, Siler CityDate: Thursday, April 30Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.Adviser: Emmanuel BelloActivities: Students will participate in a raffle drawing and receive helpful information about how to prepare for and succeed in the coming year.
* South Robeson High School, RowlandDate: Thursday, April 30Time: 1:10 p.m. " 1:40 p.m.Adviser: Angel YoungActivities: Students will participate in a raffle drawing with college-related prizes and cup/T-shirt painting.
* Chatham Central High School, Bear CreekDate: Friday, May 1Time: All dayAdviser: Emmanuel BelloActivities: Students will post graduation cap cut-outs, featuring their name and college, on the school cafeteria door. Adviser Emmanuel Bello will raffle off prizes and distribute handouts about college-related topics such as enrollment deposits, housing applications, health forms, savings plans, etc.
* West Caldwell High School, LenoirDate: Friday, May 1Time: All dayAdviser: Blythe GoughActivities: The day will feature a dunking booth on the football field where every senior going on to college will have the opportunity to dunk their favorite or least favorite teacher or administrator. West Caldwell graduates will return for a panel, where they will talk about life in college, and seniors will sign their names on a map of the state.
* J. M. Morehead High School, EdenDate: Friday, May 1Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Adviser: Kelli HammondActivities: Students showing proof of a financial aid or acceptance letter will receive free ice cream. Pennants displaying students' and faculty's college choices will adorn the senior hall, faculty and students will wear college shirts, and seniors will receive beads.
* South Caldwell High School, HudsonDate: Friday, May 1Time: 11:30 a.m. " 1:15 p.m.Adviser: Rachel BrodyActivities: Seniors and staff will wear their colleges' colors and graduates of the high school will return for a panel on college life.
* West Mecklenburg High School, CharlotteDate: Friday, May 1Time: 1:15 p.m. " 2:15 p.m.Adviser: Pharen BowmanActivities: The day will feature a T-shirt decorating contest, an ice cream truck with Italian ice, and a DJ.
* Graham and Hugh M. Cummings High Schools, Alamance CountyDate: Friday, May 1 (concurrent programs)Time: 1:20 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.Adviser: Dexter RobinsonActivities: Students will participate in games and a raffle drawing with college-related prizes.
* Bertie High School, WindsorDate: Friday, May 1Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.Adviser: Austin HillActivities: Following a pizza party with school administrators, students will hear a short presentation on life after high school and participate in a raffle drawing.
* Reidsville High School, ReidsvilleDate: Friday, May 1Time: 2:55 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.Adviser: Kareemah LewisActivities: The day will feature the "Dreamz to Schemez" Senior Challenge, a raffle which seniors can enter only if they have completed a certain number of college-related activities (e.g. complete college applications, visit college campuses, and provide proof of a college acceptance letter or a career plan.
For more about the Carolina College Advising Corps and a complete list of National Decision Day participants, please visit www.advisingcorps.org.
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