A special event to celebrate academics

Everyone is familiar with the scene on signing day, the high school sports phenom surrounded by family and friends as he pulls on a cap with the logo of the college he has chosen to attend and signs on the dotted line as future coaches look on. If everything works out, this could be the prelude to a successful college career and then a trip to the big leagues and all the wealth and acclaim that entails.

But the May 3 signing day at Rock Hill’s South Pointe High was something different. Of the nearly 90 students who attended, none was there because of his or her athletic prowess.

The attribute on display was intelligence – not to mention diligence, ambition, imagination, perseverance and the other traits successful people need to get ahead in the world. This was the school district’s first academic college signing day, a chance to recognize graduating seniors who have chosen to attend two- or four-year colleges, or the military.

The first question that comes to mind: Why didn’t someone come up with this idea a long time ago?

While budding sports stars always have basked in the glare of the spotlight, the future scientists, authors, artists, musicians, doctors and others who play such essential roles in our society have been neglected. No one thought to give them their own special signing day.

Celebrating talented athletes is fine. But focusing solely on sports stars is severely limiting, especially in light of the fact that such a small percentage of them will end up as successful professional athletes.

An academic signing day spreads some of the glory around to other deserving young people. And it helps emphasize that what they have achieved and the path they have taken to higher education is just as significant as the aspirations of young athletes.

One impetus for academic signing days was the Reach Higher initiative launched in 2014 by first lady Michelle Obama. The White House has encouraged high schools to sponsor the events, and more than 1,000 schools nationwide are participating as graduation day nears.

This is a worthy effort, and we hope it spreads.

We also hope it helps inspire young people to aim high, study hard and pursue their academic dreams after high school.

Many athletes are physically and mentally gifted, work hard to develop their skills and are fully deserving of the attention they receive. But they aren’t the only ones.

We’re glad that students who are academic standouts and the families that have supported them are being celebrated too. Congratulations to South Pointe for sponsoring this event, and we hope other high schools in the area will take the cue and hold their own academic signing days.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 5:32 PM with the headline "A special event to celebrate academics."