Members of Don Lugo’s 2016 class were given the opportunity to showcase their post-high school plans during lunch on April 26. Lugo Renaissance displayed a poster for students to sign their name on, along with what they will be doing after graduation. Universities, community colleges and armed forces branches filled the poster’s surface.

Lugo Renaissance, a zero period class that is similar to leadership, is dedicated to honoring academic achievement. By allowing students to show off their future plans, it motivates others to succeed in school and have multiple career pathways available. “It is such a great incentive and I feel like other kids would work hard so they too can have their name up there and see that all the hard work they have done [will] finally [pay] off,” said senior Naomi Gonzalez, who will be attending Mount Saint Mary’s University.

The signing day celebration was an idea prompted by the Reach Higher Initiative, a program started by Michelle Obama. The program is an effort to inspire American students to continue on to higher education. More than a high school diploma is needed to obtain a stable career, so the President and First Lady are hoping to be the country with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.

With college commitment deadlines fast approaching, reality is setting in for Lugo seniors and emotions are running high. Future Humboldt State University student Brizhane Sam said, “I feel extremely blessed! I’m the first one out of my siblings to attend a university so I’m pretty excited that I get to set an example for them.”