Fowler High's brightest celebrate college acceptance

FOWLER, Calif. (KFSN) -- Signing day for athletic programs may have been in February, but the class of 2016 at Fowler High School got their own academic signing day.

The event may have nothing to do with sports, but it's a team effort to get to this moment. On Friday morning, students and their parents were recognized for their hard work during signing day 2016.

"We want to honor and recognize our students who have made that commitment," principal Rick Romero explained. "For a lot of our kids they might be the first generation and we want to give them that send off they deserve."

The 71 graduating seniors signed on to the next 4 years of their academic career as friends and family cheered them on.

"That does take a lot of hard work and perseverance but our students know that we're always here to support them as a Redcat family," Romero said.

Come this fall Hunter Aro will go from Fowler High Redcat to Fresno State Bulldog.

"It was exhilarating to find out that I actually got accepted, that I actually made it," he said.

But it shouldn't have been much of a surprise, the senior is graduating with a 4.08 GPA and is also oozing with excellence.

Karen Johal if headed to UC Davis.

"Since Freshman year I've always set goals for myself and set boundaries," Johal explained. "And to reach them hard work perseverance you just got to focus to get there, and, today, I got there and it just feels great."

Though this has been Karen's dream university since her elementary school days she says the smile one her parent's faces was reward enough.

"Because of them I'm here where I am today," she said. "So, telling them I got accepted into a university like that it made them so proud and happy."