On May 22, 2026, The College Academy celebrated its fourth annual College Decision Day. This event celebrated our college-bound seniors. Seniors spent the morning meeting with special guests and enjoying some food. After their networking session the entire school, along with parents and the special guests, assembled in the auditorium. After everyone was seated several seniors gave speeches offering advice to the upcoming students. Special guests, including Superintendent Renzo Martinez, also gave shared remarks. The event culminated in each college bound senior walking onto the stage wearing their college sweater to present their future schools.
According to Assistant Principal and College Decision Day organizer, Ms Cadet Duval, “The goal of College Decision Day is to celebrate and recognize the achievements of our graduating seniors as they take the next step in their postsecondary journeys. The event highlights students’ college, career, military, and other postsecondary commitments while inspiring younger students to begin thinking about their own futures. It also provides an opportunity to acknowledge the support of families, alumni, staff, community partners, and district leaders who have contributed to students’ success.” Celebrating post-secondary achievements is a big part of our school culture, said Duval. The audience was grouped up by graduating classes so underclassmen can cheer together and take inspiration from the seniors and even start thinking about their own college goals.
This day-long event took a lot of careful planning. The initial planning started in September, Cadet-Duval told TCA Heights, but the preparations on the day of the event are especially busy. “On the day of the event, setup starts as early as 7:00 a.m. and continues throughout the morning, with some auditorium preparations beginning the day before. The event requires a collaborative effort from a core planning team of four staff members, along with school aides, guidance counselors, administrators, teachers, student volunteers, photographers, videographers, technical support staff, alumni, community partners, and special guests,” Duval described.
TCA Heights got a chance to meet with several special guests, including Rashawn Hoke, the Executive Director of School Support and Operations for NYCPS District 6. Mr. Hoke stated, “For the future, make sure whatever you take in college that those are courses that are going to help you to get your liberal arts. Don’t worry about trying to know what you want to do right now.” Mr. Hoke’s advice reminds us of the importance of taking many different types of classes to explore our interests.
Special guest Anna Falkovich, Senior Community Schools Director with Center for Supportive Schools, also offered her advice for future college students, “Start early…the earlier you start thinking and planning and asking questions, the better. [And] ask for help. Right? You have such an amazing community here at TCA.”
NYCPS District 6 Superintendent Renzo Martinez offered his wisdom to TCA seniors headed off to college. “This is a new chapter in your life and you need to be committed. You need to be purposeful. You need to take advantage of everything that this opportunity is going to offer you. Really take advantage and there’s a lot of great things out there and it’s for you to embrace it so that you can be the best, equipped with the best skills that you can ever have for the future.”
TCA Heights also got a chance to speak with several college bound seniors, including Mia Carrasco. Mia is headed to BMCC this fall to study criminal justice. When asked about what she’s looking forward to, Ms Carrasco said, “I’m looking forward to finding new connections, new peers, and learning new things for life.” Mia’s classmate Kiannie Reynoso is headed off to the College of Staten Island to study history this fall. Ms Reynoso said she is looking forward to “experiencing the professors, the work, and meeting new people”.
Parents and community members were invited to join the celebration as well. TCA senior Michael Bishay’s mother was in attendance to celebrate her son’s accomplishment. When asked about her feelings about the day she replied in her native language of Spanish. “Muy feliz. Lo que todo padre quiere es lo mejor para nuestros hijos. Muy feliz que ya lograron. Ya es un paso, un paso muy grande. [Very happy. What every parent wants is the best for our children. Very happy that they’ve achieved this. It’s a step—a very big step.]”
