The Power of Moments

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Chris Barbic and Donald Kamentz found themselves at a Houston pub in October 2000, unwinding after a long day running their charter school. As they watched ESPN's coverage of National Signing Day for high school football players, Kamentz realized that while athletics received grand celebrations, academics did not. This struck a chord, especially since their students—mostly from low-income Hispanic families—were often the first in their families to graduate high school. Barbic, disillusioned by the challenges faced by his sixth graders at a local elementary school, had founded YES Prep to provide these students with the education they deserved. Inspired by the idea of creating a similar celebration for academic achievements, they envisioned a Senior Signing Day where graduating seniors could announce their college choices with the same excitement as athletes. On April 30, 2001, they held the inaugural event, drawing around 450 attendees, including families and younger students. Each senior proudly announced their college destination, unveiling T-shirts or pennants, with the atmosphere filled with suspense and cheers. The emotional weight of the moment resonated deeply, highlighting the sacrifices made by families to support their children's education. Senior Signing Day quickly became a cherished annual tradition for YES Prep, symbolizing achievement for seniors and aspiration for younger students.