Monroe Public Schools –News Release

1275 N. Macomb St., Monroe, MI 48162 · (734) 265.3000

Monroe High School seniors emphatically and proudly announced the next steps in their careers as they walked across the stage Thursday, celebrating Career and College Decision Day. In its fourth year, Decision Day has grown into an even more grand celebration of future endeavors, new beginnings, and dreams being realized. The class of 2017 triumphantly told the world their plans moving forward, signed their Letters of Intent in front of friends, family, classmates, and the world watching on live-streaming video, and began the next phase of their lives.

"The purpose of Career and College Decision Day," Monroe High School Principal Sandy Kreps said to the seniors, "is for you to acknowledge and celebrate to progression you have made from elementary school to middle school to where you are today. We want you to have fun today. Although you are making a decision today, we want you to know this isn’t the end of your journey; it’s the beginning."

Any extremely dedicated staff, including Monroe High School post-secondary planners Savannah Garcia, Manuel Hoskins, and Jaclyn Swasky, guidance counselors Lisa Warnke and Scott Hochradel, worked hard to set the stage for the seniors and those who came to support them.

The event commenced with the Monroe High School Marching Band drumline getting the audience fired up for the celebration that was about to take place. After Mrs. Kreps opened the program with introductions and an explanation of the day, Monroe Public Schools superintendent Julie Everly spoke on the pride the entire district has for the class of 2017.

"When you look at a community you can tell a lot about what they value by what they celebrate and that’s why we’re here today," she said. "Today is a celebration of high expectations focus, rigor, high achievements and Monroe pride."

The ceremony was live-streamed on YouTube and the district’s homepage, so friends, family, and other buildings in the district could celebrate Decision Day with the students.  Mrs. Everly reminded the group that they were role models for the entire district, as younger students watched them take the next step into their futures.

Three students were awarded scholarships, one from the Career and Technical Education Department at MHS and the other two, sponsored by the MHS Parent Club, were a random drawing for students who completed their FAFSA forms and attended their Senior Tours. Starlyn Higgins, who was recently awarded a 2017 Michigan Breaking Traditions Merit Award, received the $500 CTE Scholarship. Kemin Perry and Dylan Willis won the Parent Club $500 Scholarships.

The poster that each student paraded across the stage had a dual purpose. A contest was held for the best poster, as decided on by the staff. Shayna Frank, who will be attending Northwood University next fall, took first place, followed by Zachary Fields and Mickelli Hartman. All three received gift cards, while the honorable mentions, Kyleigh Woolley, Mikayla Tucker, Jeffrey Salliotte, Fenndher Hernandez, and Reece Lambert, all received college staple gift baskets, covering everything from laundry to coffee to naps.

A new contest for the Decision Day festivities was a video contest. Students were given an opportunity to create a video relating to career and college readiness with the winner receiving a $100 gift card and the privilege of having their video shown at Decision Day. Alante Vinson’s video was chosen and played before a very excited student body.

Author Heather Maclean then addressed the audience, discussing stories from her childhood and how, even though she had a difficult upbringing, she was able to take control of the narrative of her life. "You are the editor of your life," she reminded the class of 2017.

Emma Kimble, daughter of Arborwood Elementary Campus fifth grade teacher Dawn Kimble, then spoke about her experiences as a hard of hearing student and how she was able to turn ignorance and scorn into an opportunity for others to learn and benefit from the challenges she overcame. "Our small class shows that you don’t have to be big or in charge to make a difference," she said. "You just have to be passionate enough to make a change." Kimble plans on attending Eastern Michigan University in the fall to study biology.

Mrs. McBroom then spoke to the seniors, as well as the students of the district watching live. She reminded them that the hard work that they put in as students now pays the dividends to a bright future. "Tomorrow will only be as great as the work we put forward today," she said. "That isn’t always so easy, is it? Sometimes life is hard, sometimes learning is hard. Know you are not alone."

The last speaker before the signing ceremony was Keegan Drager, who for the past trimester has been working on an administrative internship with Mrs. Kreps. Drager, who plans on attending DePaul University to study business administration, talked about the uncertainty of going out of your comfort zone, confidence in yourself, and how having just an idea of what one would like to accomplish can take them far. "Your passions lie at the intersection of your interests and your curiosities," he said. "Your purpose lies at the intersection of your passions, ability, and opportunity. Your purpose and your passion may not be the easiest to find, but where there’s a will, there’s a way."

One by one, the soon-to-be graduates walked across the stage, with all manner of poster with the name and logo of their prospective college, technical school, branch of the military, or career choice proudly displayed. As they were announced by their Trojan Family Time teacher, many of whom have been with these students all four years, the audience of family and friends, community members, and their fellow classmates erupted with applause. The students, after being greeted by Mrs. Kreps, Mrs. Maclean, and Mrs. Everly, signed their letter of intent on stage, put their pin in the map designating where they will be next year, and returned to their seats.

The Career and College Decision Day experience has grown from just the ceremony to a Career and College Fair as well, in which students throughout the high school have an opportunity to interact with colleges, universities, trade schools, branches of the military, and local companies to get a broader understanding of the possibilities that lie before them. Over 45 entities were represented at the fair this year; the largest showing to date.