Signing Day, a ceremony where high school seniors sign a letter of intent to indicate the student-athlete’s commitment to a university, is usually held in a school’s auditorium in front of peers and teachers.
But in Homestead, during the Special Presentation at April’s Council Meeting, Councilwoman Patricia Fairclough held the first ever Academic Signing Day hosted by the City of Homestead. Eighteen students from local high schools signed their commitment to academics and their loyalty to the college or university of their choice, alongside their school principals and the members of Homestead’s Education Committee.
“The same way students get recognized when they sign away to go to college for athletics, here in Homestead, it’s just as important to recognize our graduates for their academic accomplishments” Councilwoman Fairclough said, as Pachelbel’s Canon in D, the famous graduation song, played in the background. The honored students walked into the William F. Dickinson Community Center as Councilwoman Fairclough stated their names, high schools, and future colleges/universities before guiding them to the table where they signed letters of intent.
Dr. Lawrence Feldman, Vice-chair of the School Board of Miami-Dade County, congratulated Councilwoman Fairclough and the City of Homestead for their efforts to support academic achievements in the community. “We have been encouraging academic signing day for four years, but this is the very first city that has done a public singing day ceremony for academics. That tells me how much Homestead respects and understands education as the way of the future.”
The students that participated in Homestead’s first ever Academic Signing Day were:
Homestead Senior High:
Anthony Abeja (Syracuse University)Jhon Barrera (Florida International University)
Edeline Cangas (Stetson University)Shelby Weber (University of Maine)
MAST @ Homestead:
Yaretson Carmenate (Johns Hopkins University)Malaikah Fidele (University of Florida)
Alis Hernandez (Penn State University)Tah’laya Hudson (Mary Baldwin College)
School for Advanced Studies:
Jemar Armand (New York University)Rebecca Charles (Florida International University)
Michaela Kelly (FAMU – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University)Carole Martino Zertuche (University of Central Florida)
MOTHER OF Angela Ortiz (Harvard University)
Keys Gate Charter High School:Bernute Augustin (University of Miami)
Kelly Butler (Florida State University)Fernando Morales (Florida International University)
Ryan Richardson (University of Florida)Kyle Stodard (University of Florida)
