Last week the Camden Education Fund collaborated with Camden City, the traditional school district, and charter and renaissance schools to host Camden’s first CItywide College Signing Day. This event was inspired by Inspired by former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative, which encourages students to complete their education. Camden School Board member Nyemah Gillespie co-hosted the event, Superintendent Katrina McCombs, Mayor Vic Carstarphen, Council President Angel Fuentes, and County Commissioner Al Dyer shared remarks, and the Camden High band played while dancers from Creative Arts High School performed.

The non-profit, dedicated to accelerating progress throughout Camden’s public school In addition. system, has over the last three years created an alternative pathway for paraprofessionals to become certified teachers, awarded $1.23 million to public schools in Camden to build new, specialized supports for students with disabilities, honored 10 teachers with a Certificate of Achievement from the city and $2,000  rewards, offered grants of $100,000 each to all city schools to cover start-up costs after pandemic closures, and awarded various other grants to Camden traditional, charter, and renaissance schools.

Superintendent McCombs noted,

Today is an exciting day for education in the City of Camden. It is essential that we collectively honor our scholars’ hard work, especially as they emerge from the pandemic. Thank you to our partners at the Camden Education Fund for their vision, support, and unwavering commitment to our students and the City of Camden.

“As the city’s graduation rate has climbed over the last 10 years,” CEF Executive Director Naeha Dean added, “more and more of our students have been able to access post-secondary opportunities, whether it is college, trade school, or the military.  We’re thrilled to partner with the city and its schools to begin the tradition of acknowledging and celebrating these students at this important moment in their lives.”

So Michelle Obama!