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At signing ceremony, Washougal students commit to colleges, careers

High school celebrates its seniors' post-graduation plans, setting example for underclassmen

By Adam Littman, Columbian Staff Writer
Published: May 17, 2019, 7:45pm
4 Photos
Shelby Jolly, 18, a Washougal High School senior, foreground, signs her name on a poster as she joins fellow classmates in celebrating their post-high school plans. Jolly, who was part of the group heading to Clark College in the fall, took part in Washougal’s first College and Career Signing Day. Students signed lawn signs to announce what college, branch of the military or apprenticeship program they plan to attend after graduating.
Shelby Jolly, 18, a Washougal High School senior, foreground, signs her name on a poster as she joins fellow classmates in celebrating their post-high school plans. Jolly, who was part of the group heading to Clark College in the fall, took part in Washougal’s first College and Career Signing Day. Students signed lawn signs to announce what college, branch of the military or apprenticeship program they plan to attend after graduating. Amanda Cowan/The Columbian Photo Gallery

WASHOUGAL — Jacob McKee never thought he’d participate in a signing day.

The Washougal High School senior is set to graduate in three weeks, and then he’ll attend Northwest Lineman College, where he’ll learn how to work on power lines. Typically, the linemen who participate in a signing day plan to work on a football field instead of a power line, so McKee said he was “honored” to have a chance to celebrate his future plans in front of the school. On Friday, he was one of about 100 graduating seniors to participate in the school’s first-ever Panthers Rising: College and Career Signing Day.

“People going to trade schools don’t usually get to do that,” said McKee, who hopes to get a job as a lineman while saving up money to study music and potentially become a music teacher. “I got to show everyone that I’m committed to something after high school.”

The idea for college and career signing days dates back to former First Lady Michelle Obama, who started the program through her Reach Higher initiative.

“We wanted this to be as inclusive as possible,” said Sheree Clark, associate principal at Washougal High School, who was one of the event’s main organizers. “We wanted to honor students who have made some sort of commitment to their future, whether that’s going to a four-year program, a two-year program, an apprenticeship or to the military.”

The event took place in the high school gym, and the participating seniors — who represented about 50 percent of the senior class, Clark said — were split into groups based on their future plans. Students heading to the military sat with others heading to the same branch, while students attending the same college were seated together. Two of the bigger groups were those students who will attend Clark College and Washington State University.

Isaiah Ross will head to Whitworth University in Spokane, where he plans to join the swim team and study biology. He said he hasn’t done an athletic signing yet to announce his future plans, but he might. He was still happy to participate in Friday’s event.

“It made it feel real,” he said. “It made it feel official to sign in front of the whole community like that.”

The seniors were called up to the front of the gym with the others in their group, where they signed lawn signs showing off their future plans. They then posed for pictures while the rest of the students at Washougal High School sat on the bleachers and cheered them on.

“This was not only about celebrating our seniors, but inspiring younger students to grasp what comes after high school,” Superintendent Mary Templeton said. “We want to make sure our students are career, college and life ready. We want our students to see that we all have a plan. That’s the culture we’re trying to create.”

Washougal High School graduate and current American Sign Language teacher Tami Grant, who is the district’s nomination for Washington State Teacher of the Year, spoke during the assembly, telling the students that regardless of their future plans, they will struggle. She told the students to ask for help when they need it, and they will always have the entire Washougal community behind them. That’s part of the reason Washougal officials hope signing day turns into a yearly event for graduating seniors.

“Your teachers, your parents, your community and me will continue over the next three weeks to support you sitting here, and we will continue to push those of you sitting in those stands,” Grant said. “We want to see you reach your potential, we want so see you succeed, because we know you can.”

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Columbian Staff Writer