Carmen students celebrate senior signing day at UWM

Hundreds of students, family members and staff from the Carmen Schools of Science and Technology celebrated the schools’ second annual Senior Signing Day at UWM.

From the thunderous opening of the drumline to the final wrap-up, the event May 19 at the Klotsche Center gave Carmen seniors a chance to share their plans and celebrate their futures. Younger students had the opportunity to see what is possible for them. Faculty, staff and families joined the event to applaud student accomplishments and to honor outstanding teachers and staff. The celebration included high energy cheering, musical performances, scholarship and honors announcements, and words of encouragement from seniors and alumni.

The seniors attend Carmen’s three high schools located across Milwaukee, which includes Carmen Northwest High School, Carmen South High School and Carmen Southeast High School.

Alberto Maldonado, director of the Roberto Hernandez Center and a member of Carmen’s board of directors, invited the students to last year’s first-ever signing day.

UWM Chancellor Mark Mone welcomed the 200 students, staff and families to campus.

The event honored seniors who have chosen to move on to a variety of colleges and universities, the military, public service and careers in business and industry.

Ninety percent of the more than 2,000 students Carmen’s schools serve come from families with low incomes and who live in some of Milwaukee’s most challenged neighborhoods, according to the schools. Carmen students graduate with some of the highest ACT scores among public schools in the city. In 2022, Carmen was named to the U.S. News and World Report’s national list of best high schools, ranking first in Milwaukee and 10th in Wisconsin.

This year’s seniors have overcome the extraordinary challenge of a global pandemic during their high school careers, said Jennifer Lopez, Carmen chief executive officer.  “In a time of uncertainty and anxiety, they rose to the challenge. Whatever path you have chosen, we are deeply, deeply proud of how you responded.”

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