LANSING, Ill. (May 4, 2024) – Graduating TF South High School seniors committed to continuing their academic and athletic careers during its annual signing day assembly on May 1. The event is similar to a signing ceremony for high school athletes going to the next level.
Organizers said this is the sixth consecutive year the school has hosted a signing day for its graduating seniors.
Celebrating academic achievements
Angela Shama, a counselor at TF South who helped organize the event, says 70 percent of this year’s graduating class was accepted into a university.
Over 100 seniors announced their college choice, scholarship amounts, and athletic continuation at Tuesday’s event. Many students received scholarships, and a few announced they were awarded a full-ride scholarship that would cover the cost of college over four years.
Some students decided to stay close to home to study while others will go as far as Washington, D.C.
18-year-old senior Jameson Onayo has a full ride to Northwestern University in Evanston where he will major in English.
“I’ve been working toward this for two to three years now and it’s nice to finally not have to worry about it anymore,” said Onayo.
Onayo also says he looks forward to meeting new people, being in a new environment, and learning new things.
Christian Miller, a 17-year-old senior, was accepted into the University of Connecticut to study civil engineering. Miller says the university awarded him over $75,000 in scholarships for four years and he is set to receive more before the fall semester starts.
Senior Signing Day
The celebration began with a special recognition of the TF South teachers retiring after over 30 years of teaching.
During the assembly, students stated their full names before announcing their college choice and signed their names on a large ‘signing day’ poster to recognize their accomplishments.
A raffle was held before the event came to an end. Students and families had the chance to win gift cards, tablets, smart TVs, and smartphones. 
John O’Rourke, Assistant Principal for Pupil Personnel Services at TF South, expressed his proudness of the students’ achievements.
“I am amazed every year to listen to the opportunities the students have created over four years, their choices to attend very well-known and prestigious schools and being recipients of scholarships whether academic or athletic,” said O’Rourke.
O’Rourke says TF South administrators and staff work hard throughout the year to organize the event.
“We take pride in it and it’s really exciting to see what our students are [accomplishing],” he said. 
TF South High School is located at 18500 Burnham Ave in Lansing.
Related
- TF South celebrates outstanding achievements at its 65th annual Honors Awards Assembly (April 24, 2024)
Who were the teachers that were retiring?