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College and Career March
Each year, hundreds of high school seniors from schools across our network — and beyond — celebrate their postsecondary planning journeys at the College and Career March.
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Argenis Apolinario
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A community celebration
What is the College and Career March?
Started in 2011 at WHEELS and spread by NYC Outward Bound Schools, the College and Career March originally served as an opportunity for seniors to mail the final pieces of their college applications. But today, since most college applications are completed online, students opt to mail thank you notes to family members, friends, coaches, counselors and mentors to recognize the support systems that have helped them through the postsecondary planning process.
Each school hosts their own celebration, inviting underclassmen, teachers, families, community members and elected officials to line the streets of the neighborhood and cheer on the seniors as they march to a nearby post office or mailbox.
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Argenis Apolinario
An inspiring annual ritual
What Does it Mean for Schools & Students?
The College and Career March is an inspiring ritual that helps establish postsecondary planning in participating schools, reminding every student that with perseverance, resilience, hard work — and the necessary school support — each of them can graduate and go on to lead fulfilling, purposeful and economically secure lives. Many of the students who participate will be the first in their families to attend college!
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Argenis Apolinario
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Julie Benns
“There is a notion and constant desire to make sure everyone is heard, valued and known at my school. And now being a senior, and being able to attend this College and Career March, I feel that in abundance.”
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College and Career March Milestones
2011
- Assistant Principal Jenny Rodriguez conceives the College March and launches the first march at WHEELS, a Compass Rose School in Washington Heights. Capital One Bank and the United States Postal Service (USPS) support the launch.
2012
- NYC Outward Bound Schools spreads the ritual to all of its network schools with support from Capital One Bank and USPS.
2014
- President Obama mentions WHEELS’ College March in his 2014 State of the Union address. With our support, schools across the country replicate the College March and it doubles in size.
2015
- We present the College March alongside Capital One Bank at the National College Access Network Conference to further share the practice with other schools.
2016
- We partner with the NYC Department of Education’s College Access for All and NYC Mayor’s offices to expand the College March to even more NYC public schools.
2017
- Edutopia joins the WHEELS College March and creates a short documentary.
2020
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we celebrate our first-ever virtual College March on Friday, December 11, 2020! This date also marks the 10th anniversary of the College March and the largest to date, with more than 2,000 high school seniors from across the country celebrating together on Zoom.
2023
- The College March is rebranded as The College and Career March to be more inclusive of all postsecondary options. The tradition continues to serve as a powerful symbol of the idea that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, can graduate with a high-quality postsecondary plan, prepared to thrive.
