Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher organization and McDonald’s partnered up to congratulate 10,000 college-bound high school students for their 5th Annual College Signing Day. They all gathered at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion after making their final decision about which college to attend and received well wishes from celebs like John Legend, McDonald’s executives and of course Mrs. Obama herself.
The former FLOTUS was in attendance and offered words of encouragement to the future college students.
“I want you all to know, you are about to make the best investment you can possibly make,” the Becoming author said to the crowd. “In order to be here today, you kept on reaching higher for yourselves and for your future. You told all those doubters that they’d better make room. That is what this is all about, making people make room for you where you belong.”
College Signing Day is a national celebration for high school students who are first-generation students and transfer students who are headed to a two year college, four-year college or university, professional training program or the military.
Mrs. Obama started Reach Higher in 2015 to increase college access and “to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school.”
McDonald’s is also a major proponent of education and through their tuition assistance, scholarships, apprenticeships and job readiness training they have helped send off more than 38,500 students to college and awarded $58 million in high school and college tuition assistance.