- Education
Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu
AUSTIN — The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), creators of the Generation Texas movement, announced that GenerationTX Decision Day is May 1.
GenTX Decision Day is a culmination of the efforts across the state to support all students, especially high school seniors, in getting to and through college.
This year, GenTX will promote Virtual Decision Day events due to the current COVID-19 climate. The Class of 2020 is encouraged to virtually celebrate accomplishments and decisions to attend college in the fall. To help students, counselors, and school districts get creative, the GenTX website offers a Virtual Decision Day guide that includes social media, video conferencing, and low-tech options.
West Texas A&M University is embracing the virtual celebration, said Jeff Baylor, executive director of admissions.
"We are excited to see our incoming class declare on May 1 their intention to join us as Buffaloes. Usually we welcome our new Buffs personally at signing-day ceremonies and awards banquets, but even though we can't do that now, we're thrilled to have this opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments as part of Virtual Decision Day,” Baylor said.
“This year it will be a lot easier for us to interact with the excitement through students’ social posts since they’ll be using the hashtags identified by GenTX,” said Virginia Leathers, associate director of admissions.
Recommended hashtags are #GenTX #DecisionDay2020. WT also will use the hashtags #IChoseWT, #GoBuffsGo, #OnOnBuffaloes, and #WTAMU24.
This virtual celebration is “especially important now, because the economic recovery and future competitiveness of Texas will depend on skilled and educated Texans,” said Commissioner of Texas Higher Education Harrison Keller.
“We should celebrate our students’ hard work, accomplishments, and commitments to pursue higher education,” Keller continued. “Completing high-quality postsecondary credentials will help these students unlock their potential, help them provide for their families, and pursue their dreams.”
“Our future students have already shown their strength and resilience in uncertainty,” Leathers said, “and we proudly welcome this fall’s class to WT with great expectation of all they will achieve not only within our walls over the next four years, but across the span of their lives in the wider community and world.”
The goal is to have at least 1,200 Texas high schools participate and register for #GenTX Virtual Decision Day to support students with activities, events and outreach. Schools that register will be recognized on GenTX social media..
—WTAMU—