Senior Signing Day At Solon High School

SOLON, OH - For nearly ten years, Solon High School students have taken part in a unique tradition. The district calls it Senior Signing Day, when every senior in the graduating class gets to sign their own letter of intent, signaling their intention to continue their growth.

The idea for an all-inclusive Signing Day was spurred by the popularity of athletes and their National Signing Day, which sees seniors sign letters of intent to play their chosen sport at the collegiate level for a specific institution. Solon High School had three seniors participate in National Signing Day this year.

Administrators saw the joy that National Signing Day brought to athletes, they saw the pride in the students' eyes, and wanted to find a way to bring that to the entire graduating class. Thus, Senior Signing Day was born.

"We took a step back and said all of our kids have accomplished a great deal over their time in the Solon Schools and we wanted to mark those accomplishments," Tammy Strom, Solon Schools' communications officer, told Patch.

All graduating seniors are given a chance to sign their own letter, complete with their photograph, indicating their significance to the Solon community. Students do not have to be matriculating to a collegiate institution to participate; Senior Signing Day is open to students joining the workforce or military. The goal is simply to indicate the value of all the seniors.

After the letters are signed, pictures of the students are attached to the documents and the finished letters are hung in the Senior Commons Area for all to see. After the Senior Awards Dinner at the end of May, prior to graduation, students and their parents are able to then take the letters home as a keepsake.

"We love the National Letters of Intent signing day for athletes, but this day is for all students," Strom said. "We want to celebrate their accomplishments as they get ready to graduate."

Photos from Solon Schools