April 27, 2020 — LANSING, Mich. — High schools and colleges throughout Michigan will be using creative and virtual approaches to celebrate the Class of 2020 as part of Decision Day, which is typically commemorated on May 1. This year’s events and activities in Michigan will take place over a two-week period from April 27 to May 8. Michigan College Access Network is leading these efforts to ensure that students celebrate their continued education beyond high school.
This year’s celebration is taking place in digital spaces and using print media since the global health crisis related to the coronavirus is not permitting the traditional, in-person events and rallies. Students will have access to a new statewide snapchat filter and other social media assets. Students participating virtually are encouraged to use two hashtags: #Idecided and #collegeboundMI.
High schools will use digital platforms like Zoom and WebEx to host online celebrations in addition to working with local printers to create yard signs, community signs, and even recognize students via newspaper articles. Colleges will also host online recognition events. The college-hosted celebration's schedule is online here.
College Decision Day, which mimics the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes, celebrates high school seniors who have made the decision to go to college while encouraging younger students and families to prepare for their education beyond high school.
MCAN expects more than 400 high schools to participate in Decision Day 2020 activities, which is expected to engage 55,000 members of the Class of 2020. Since 2011, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) has organized College Decision Day as a statewide event, which later became known as National College Signing Day.
“College Decision Day celebrates every student who decides to further their education,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of MCAN. “From Marquette to Detroit, we want to celebrate students who are heading to college in all forms. Our aim is to recognize and applaud this important decision in the lives of students which is even more important during this unique time in history.”
To celebrate our seniors, everyone across the state is encouraged to wear college gear and share support of college decisions on social media. Show your support by posting pictures wearing college gear from your alma mater and join the conversation in your community and on social media like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK
As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN works to improve the futures of Michigan’s students and communities by making college accessible to all. MCAN’s work centers on one main goal: To increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60% by 2030. MCAN engages partners statewide who are committed to systems-level change and the reduction of barriers to increase college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students and students of color. MCAN has helped Michigan’s postsecondary attainment rate increase for the 10th consecutive year. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Media Contact: Christopher Tremblay
- Email: christopher@micollegeaccess.org
- Cell: 814-504-5650
This initiative features new, virtual and other unique efforts to celebrate college-bound students during the global pandemic.