Arizona Decision Day
Let’s celebrate the future plans of Arizona’s high school graduates!
Arizona Decision Day empowers students to take charge of their futures by making plans beyond high school, whether it’s college, trade school, military, or the workforce. Counselors and educators can use this page as a resource to plan Decision Day events, shape messaging and organize celebrations throughout the state.
This year, Arizona Decision Day kicks off in April and continues until high school graduation! Ensure that every student feels valued and celebrated, regardless of their post-graduation plans. Key goals include:
- Celebrating the hard work and dedication of students in graduating from high school and taking steps toward future success.
- Acknowledging and commending students’ future plans, whether it involves college, the military, trade school, or other career pathways.
- Recognizing and supporting individuals who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.
- Inspiring younger students to believe that college is part of their future!
- Building a college-going culture within your school that helps students see college as an expectation rather than an exception.
El Valle Puede Celebration to tip-off Arizona Decision Day
More than 1,300 Arizona high school graduates were celebrated at the El Valle Puede tip-off Arizona Decision Day at Footprint Center on Monday, April 8. The event was hosted by Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation and Helios Education Foundation, with support from the Arizona Board of Regents. The free event included a resource fair for students, Phoenix Suns entertainment, special guests and a live concert!
Event planning timeline
March
Begin your planning! Engage a celebration committee at your school or district to discuss the timeline and event(s). This may include school counselors, teachers, students, parents, higher education staff, college access programs, community members, etc.
April
After you have your Decision events designed begin reaching out to guest speakers and volunteers to increase capacity for your event! Make sure to finalize all donations and or sponsorships to help with student celebrations.
El Valle Puede Celebration
More than 1,300 Arizona high school graduates were celebrated at the El Valle Puede tip-off Arizona Decision Day at Footprint Center on Monday, April 8.
May
Plan and prepare to publicly share what’s happening for your school or district’s Decision Day events. Send students and families communications reminding them about the planned celebrations! Remember to enjoy the celebrations and reflect on all the success of your graduates.
Event ideas and resources
Have fun and just be creative as you plan events to celebrate your seniors! Depending on how your school is structured, you may have students who attend in person, online or both. Following are suggested ideas to host events for both modalities.
- Host an open-mic assembly for seniors to announce to other students what they are doing after high school.
- Have students sign their college acceptance letters and take photos documenting the moment.
- Have photography students take photos of seniors, adding backgrounds that represent schools where
they are enrolling (e.g. college, mascot or logo). Younger students can also pose and share their post-high
school plans. - Host a panel discussion featuring seniors sharing the importance of planning for education after high school. Host the discussion as part of an assembly or create a video of the discussion and post on your school’s website so other students can view it.
- Encourage all students to decorate doors or lockers with illustrations of their future plans.
- Ask staff to wear clothing from their college and talk to students about why they decided to go to college.
- Set up a parade route for seniors through the school’s parking lot with cars decorated in themes reflecting their future plans.
- Ask seniors to share a photo or prepare a 10-20 second video about their future plans and post to your school’s social media accounts and website. Post to the school’s social media page or host an event showcasing videos/photos at school on Decision Day. Use #AZDecisionDay to drive awareness throughout Arizona.
- Ask alumni to join the virtual tour and talk about their college experiences. Encourage attendees to wear college swag.
- Profile students who are graduating and their future plans through newsletters and local media outlets.
Encourage your students to celebrate using social media. Be sure to use the hashtag: #AZDecisionDay. We’ve also created “I decided” signs you can print off and have students write in their Decision Day choices!
