WESLACO — Techno music on a loop, a band, cheerleaders and a hyped-up crowd provided the background for Weslaco ISD seniors saying their future intent while on stage.
Local universities were shouted out, as well as distant Ivy League schools and some of the best public and private schools in Texas. Commitments to the workforce, the military and the best of the bunch — tattoo school, which drew a great cheer — were celebrated Friday at the Susan M. Peterson Performing Arts Center on Central Middle School’s campus.
Athletes tend to grab the college signing spotlight, usually in a gym surrounded by family, teammates and students forced to be there.
Weslaco ISD treated students to a college decision day to celebrate the choices students make with the National College Decision Day of May 1 looming.
The event was headlined by guest speaker and former professional athlete Vince Young. The former NFL quarterback is much more than an athlete, and — like most of the students pledging their commitment to universities — Young sat in the same seat that Weslaco ISD students will sit in a few months.
Before being drafted by the NFL in 2006, Young attended the University of Texas, where he made a name for himself on the football field.
Young was instrumental in leading the Longhorns to a NCAA national championship in 2006 over the University of Southern California in arguably one of the best college football games in history, ensuring the legendary status of Young in the state’s capital.
Young returned to Austin to complete his education and in 2013 graduated with a degree in youth and community studies. The former quarterback helped create a fun environment inside the performing arts center, speaking words of encouragement with a key message.
“We are very proud of them,” Young said. “A lot of students probably do not feel that people are proud of them. This program is to show a lot of that.”
Young provided his own experiences to the crowd during his speech.
“You are going to go through trials and tribulations,” he said. “But the main thing is to stay focused on what you need to accomplish: your goals and why you came to school.”
Like on the football field, Young commanded the stage, and so did WISD senior Tristen Solis, one of the three emcees for the event. Solis had home-field advantage, as a theatre student had performed on that very stage numerous times.
Solis spoke his decision into the mic. The senior is going to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
“It was awesome,” Solis said. “It is super cool that everybody gets the opportunity to announce what they are going to do for the rest of their academic years.”