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U.S. Secretary of Education to Visit YES Prep on Friday
April 29, 2010 by Jeremy Jones
Close to 5,000 people will be packed into Rice University’s basketball arena, Tudor Fieldhouse on a Friday afternoon in late April. However, it won’t be for a news conference to witness the newest recruit sign for Rice’s basketball team. Instead, it will be to celebrate 126 young adults’ achievements as they officially announce and declare which college they will be attending this fall.
For the past decade, 100% of YES Prep's graduating seniors have been accepted to a four-year college or university. A time honored tradition, full of spirit and emotion, Senior Signing Day, now entering its 10th year and replicated at dozens of high schools all across the country, marks the culmination of seven years of hard work for most of our students. Indeed, this momentous event celebrates the hard work and unwavering dedication of our seniors and their families.
This year’s celebration proves to be even more special for two reasons. Proving that students from all of Houston's neighborhoods can be successful, both YES Prep Southeast (our flagship campus with ten graduating classes) and YES Prep North Central with their inaugural graduating class will be sending 100% of their students to college in the fall. The marks a key moment in the history of our organization because it is the first year that we will graduate classes from multiple campuses. In the next several years, YES Prep will increase the pace of educational change by seeing the first graduating classes at YES Prep Southwest, East End and Gulfton and by 2020, over 7,500 alumni will call one of YES’ 13 campuses their alma mater.
Additionally, this year we will have a special guest joining us. U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, will be visiting Houston for the first time and his first stop will be YES Prep to celebrate with our seniors as the keynote speaker for the 2010 Senior Signing Day. A former professional basketball player and a lifelong champion of educational excellence and equity for all children, Secretary Duncan is the perfect individual to reaffirm the collective work of the entire YES Prep community in an appropriate venue for celebration!
We will be hosting a live blog with Edutopia and will post photos, college lists and remarks from the Secretary on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/yesprep), Twitter accounts (www.twitter.com/yesprep), and our blog.
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3 Comments
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This day each year reminds me why I’m proud to be a Wizard! Congrats class of 2010, I cannot wait to hear your decisions. What a blessing to surround myself with people who prove each day that anyone from any zip code can go to college and change their community.
Bonnie on Apr 29, 2010
Today was such an inspirational event. There was not a dry eye in house. It was an honor to witness this life changing ritual. Our students accomplishments are truly a testament to the YES PREP mission and to all who believe in educational equality for ALL. Parents, students, alumni, and invited guest definitely left RICE TUDOR Fieldhouse on fire about our mission. Witnessing such a rite of passage changes you as a person. One will never second guess our “WHATEVER IT TAKES” attitude that is instilled in anyone connected to YES PREP. YES PREP has not only changed the lives of these seniors but generations to come! THANK YOU continue the hard work to 10,000 and beyond!
Norma on Apr 30, 2010
Seeking teaching opportunities in Austin. Suggestions?
Barbara Touey on Jul 02, 2010