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Philadelphia High School Seniors Celebrate Their Impending College Education

By Mike Dougherty

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- About 3,000 high school seniors from around Philadelphia filed into Hagan Arena, at St. Joseph's University, today for the first ever "College Signing Day."

Most of the students there had already decided where they will attend college, so this was more a celebration of their acceptance than anything else.

"I'm looking forward to meeting new people, finding myself, taking more responsibility -- just taking on life," said Victoria Silva, who is headed to East Stroudsburg University in the fall.

A lot of the high school seniors at today's ceremony will start at the Community College of Philadelphia.  Spokesman Chris Lewis says it's important to praise their accomplishments.

"We're just here in a supportive mechanism, to cheer them on and support them," he said.

This assembly is part of the national "Reach Higher" initiative, started by first lady Michele Obama.

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