Area Charter School Students Look Beyond High School On 'Signing Day'

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Students at some Philadelphia charter schools are celebrating the next step in their academic careers.

700 students at Mastery Charter Schools gathered at Temple's Liacouras Center for an annual ceremony they call "signing day," when students hold signs stating where they're going to college.

Collectively, these students earned $28.4 million in scholarships.

Senior Billy Valerio was wearing a blue cape with the University of Pennsylvania logo.

"I want to be a pediatric surgeon. I've known for pretty much all my life that I wanted to do that. So UPenn is one of the best medical schools in the world."

Cece Thompson is going to the University of Maryland, College Park to study.

"Criminology, criminal justice and psychology."

And the hoopla over signing day?

"I feel as though it's a pre-graduation. Everybody is all hyped up, congratulating each other."

Her graduation is June 23. And yes, she's counting the days.