Class Of 2013 Commits To Graduate

HILLIARD, Ohio -- The Fresh Start Program at Hilliard Darby started with the class of 2011 and has continued for the past three years.

This year’s class of 2013 has experienced the program by attending meetings and events thus far in the school year.

On Friday, Dec. 11, a new program was added to Fresh Start called Commit to Graduate.

With the help of Jostens, Assistant Principal Dawn Sayre organized the program for the freshman class at Darby.

Sayre explained what the new program aims to do: The purpose is to support and reemphasize our mission and goals with the Fresh Start Program. The three things that Fresh Start aims to assist with are academics, getting involved and personal character and choices.

The first inaugural Commit to Graduate program at Darby was led by Jostens Representative Michael Dillon.

The assembly has also been held in several others middle schools and high schools throughout the entire country.

The presentation included several parts, including statistics to make the students realize how important their education and the ultimate goal of graduating really are.

Dillon pointed out that freshman have the lowest GPAs and the most discipline referrals, and that one in every three students fail to graduate from high school with a diploma.

He also explained the earning potential of a high-school graduate compared to a student who didn’t graduate and the first quarter statistics of the class of 2013.

These statistics help make the point that graduating isn’t easy. So Jostens and Darby are partnering to help students meet this goal.

“As for Jostens, our mission is to support the school’s mission. Commit to Graduate is a reflection of the school’s mission,” Dillon said. “We wanted the class of 2013 to feel empowered to make a change and start their high-school career in the right way with a new tradition.”

The program continued with each student taking out the note card they were handed as they took their seats. Students wrote down what they are struggling with or enjoying in high school currently or even if they would like to know more about getting involved with a certain club.

Dillon explained the “Top 5 Reasons to Commit to Graduate.”

Each student was given the opportunity to sign a Commit to Graduate banner with the school crest in the center.

As the freshmen were filling up the banner with their signatures, they were also able to try on the caps and gowns they’ll eventually get to wear when they graduate in 2013.

The banner will be hung in the commons, and proceeding classes' will be hung next to it.

“It was inspirational and made me want to commit to graduate,” freshman Chris Block said.

“I thought it was informative, insightful and inspiring. It was cool,” freshman Kylee Aker said.

Principal Ryan McClure explained what he thought of the new Darby tradition.

“I like it a lot. It sends the message that time in high school goes fast. We try to stress the importance of education, getting involved, and having a solid foundation,” Principal Ryan McClure said. “Putting your signature on something really reinforces it. If you do well in high school, it’s more fun -- it should be fun.”

This story first was written for Hilliard Darby's Panther Press and shared with NBC 4 as part of a media collaboration between school and the station.