Thousands Attend Two-Day Event Honoring More Than 1,100 Graduating Scholars
DALLAS – Uplift Education celebrates the achievements and future plans of its graduating seniors during the 16th Annual Senior Decision Day, held April 1 and 2, 2026, at UTA’s College Park Center. The two-day event brings together thousands of students, families, educators, and community supporters as members of the Class of 2026 take the stage in a high-energy, pep rally-style celebration to publicly announce their college or career decisions. The event will include performances from cheerleaders, dance teams, drumlines, and confetti-filled celebrations honoring each scholar’s next step.
The Uplift Education Class of 2026 includes 1,121 scholars. Every graduating senior has been accepted to at least one college or university, continuing Uplift Education’s 100% college acceptance record for more than 20 consecutive years. Seventy-eight percent of seniors will be the first in their families to attend college.
Uplift Education ranks No. 1 in Texas for salary earned by graduates, reflecting the long-term impact of its college-preparatory model. Uplift alumni surpass state averages for college preparedness by 13 percent, earn college degrees at four times the national rate, and make an average of $20,000 more annually than peers who graduated from nearby school districts.
“Senior Decision Day represents the years of dedication, perseverance, and belief in what our scholars can achieve,” said Dr. Remy Washington, CEO of Uplift Education. “Watching each of the Uplift Education seniors step onto that stage allows us to shine a spotlight on the young women and men who are changing the trajectory of their lives, their families, and their communities.”
Uplift Education Class of 2026 by the numbers:
- 10,074 college applications submitted
- 4,144 college acceptances from 407 colleges and universities nationwide, including institutions like Boston University, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the University of Michigan, and the University of Southern California
- $41,276,512 in scholarships and grants this year, totaling more than $165 million over four years
Students pursuing postsecondary pathways continue to show strong interest in fields that align with workforce demand, including healthcare and human services, business management and entrepreneurship, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. While the vast majority of graduates plan to matriculate at four-year institutions in the fall, at least 62 have chosen to immediately put their aptitudes and education to use in the workforce.
“Senior Decision Day shows us that our hard work truly pays off,” said Sa’Mya Craff, Uplift Education Scholar. “Standing on that stage means more than choosing a college or career. It represents the support we received from our teachers, our families, and a community that believed in us every step of the way.”
Uplift Education serves more than 23,000 students across 45 schools in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, and DeSoto. Through its Road to College and Career program, students receive structured college and career advice beginning in middle school and continuing through graduation and beyond, with ongoing alumni support designed to help graduates persist through college and into meaningful careers.
Senior Decision Day will be livestreamed via the Uplift Education website uplifteducation.org/SENIOR-DECISION-DAY/.
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