The 11th annual AVID Signing Day on May 7 was a joyous occasion where 46 seniors proudly proclaimed where they will attend college in the fall. The ceremony is patterned after the athletic signing that many high schools host. But the AVID event is all about academics.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the ceremony is the pure joy and love that flows freely between the students and AVID teachers. Nearly every student speaker talked about the importance of their relationships with the AVID teachers and students and how much they have grown and appreciate the AVID support system.
The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is an academic elective course that focuses on developing organization and study skills and includes academic tutoring, college visits, and support with the college application and financial aid process.
The ceremony featured speeches by AVID Valedictorian, Alahna Gainer, class representatives Charlotte Benham, Treasure Bonner, Gionni Mitchell, and Sydney Stevenson, teachers and AVID District Director, Bob Swaggard.
The three Heights High AVID teachers are Claudene McCoy (10th grade), Jill Pompei (9th & 11th grade), and Shawn Washington (9th & 12th grade), also the high school AVID Coordinator. Each teacher stays with a class for four years.
AVID is a national program that is also in the CH-UH middle schools and several elementary schools.
Class of 2024 Heights High AVID College Destinations
* - Denotes National Honor Society Member
Ukasha Abdul-Hafezz * - University of Dayton
Miyonne Alston-Bey - Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science
Karim Azzam * - American University
Qyra Basit * - University of Cincinnati
Charlotte Benham * - University of Toledo
Treasure Bonner * - Kent State University
Jordan Evans * - The Ohio State University
Fahness Freeman - Eastern Michigan University
Alahna Gainer * - California McKenna College
Ethan Golden - Thomas Moore College
Ka’niyaa Goodson - Bowling Green State University
Vanessa Green - Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Rodney Harris - Siena Heights College
Neheah Head - Central State University
RaMiah Hinson - Gap Year
Harrison Holland - Kent State University
Jayden Honaker * - Bowie State University
Brandon Hughkeith - Undecided
Aniyah Idom * - Hampton University
Caila Johnson * - Hampton University
Ka’Niya Johnson - Eastern Michigan University
Amelia King * - College of Wooster
Kasside Wilson - University of Akron
Miah Lewis-Kelly * - Spelman College
Julianna Madlock - University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Kaymyah McDonald - Lafayette University
Elsa McNulty - Gap Year, Fashion & Business
Michael Middleton - The Ohio State University
Gionni Mitchell * - The Ohio State University
Jacob Moore - University of Toledo
Trudy Motsamai - University of Cincinnati
LeeAsia Peterson * - Baldwin Wallace University
Brendan Price - Gap Year, Gaming & Digital Design
Jayla Putnam * - Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Michael Robinson * - Kent State University
Steven Robinson - Gap Year, Entrepreneurship
Egypt Sa’ad - Kent State University
Tashiya Sanders - United States Air Force
Kyera Scott * - Bowling Green State University
Sydney Stevenson * - University of Akron
Britni Thomas - Cleveland State University
Dashara Turner - University of Cincinnati
Grayson M. Valentine * - The Ohio State University
Markia Whitner - Gap Year, Nursing
Christopher Williams * - The Ohio State University
Harlan Williams - Hampton University