The college aspirations of Casco Bay High School students were on public display on Dec. 15, when CBHS seniors held the school’s 11th annual “College March” down Congress Street to the downtown post office. The entire senior class of nearly 100 students participated, mailing college applications or letters to a significant adult in their life who has supported their educational journey.
The seniors marched from the Portland Museum of Art to the post office and then headed to City Hall, where they were joined by the rest of the CBHS student body, recognized by school and city officials and listened to addresses from class speakers Sumaya Abdulle and Askar Azeez.
Principal Derek Pierce says that the annual March to the Post Office demonstrates “to the school community and the world that every kid is ‘college material’ – that every kid can get there with hard work and adequate support if they decide that is the right path. We want our students to graduate with as many options as possible – and we want college to be one of them.”
Throughout CBHS’ 19-year history, about 98 percent of its students have been accepted to college. Last year, 100 percent of graduating seniors earned a college acceptance. Over 36 percent of CBHS seniors last year were the first in their families to attend college; many are from immigrant families.
CBHS is grateful to the University of Southern Maine, which sponsors the event, and also to the United States Postal Service, for its continued support of this inspirational annual tradition.