Upward Bound held our annual Senior Recognition celebration on Saturday, May 20. We continued our tradition of participating in “College Decision Day," a statewide initiative organized by the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) and coordinated by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

As part of her “Reach Higher” initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama declared April 26 to be “National College Signing Day.” Reach Higher focuses on inspiring students to pursue higher education and advanced training. It is inspired by sports events, such as the NCAA national signing day and the NFL draft,” Dr. Adam S. Green, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the Commission, said. “We want to make sure we showcase the academic excellence of our students with the same enthusiasm and pride as we devote to sports.” To coordinate with the national campaign, West Virginia’s College Decision Day activities were held statewide throughout the months of April and May.

To join in the initiative, Upward Bound staff, students and families recognized and celebrated each of our seniors who plan to pursue some form of postsecondary education. We held a college transition workshop for seniors and their parents, and shared a video showcasing our college-bound seniors and their time in the program. We also recognized each individual senior with a gift, and had each one sign a commitment pledge to continue their education.