More than 1,200 graduating seniors gathered at Old Dominion University (ODU) on Tuesday, April 25, for “National Signing Day” when students came from Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach to celebrate their final decision in the college process.

The event was spurred to life because of the ACCESS College Foundation, who has helped over 50,000 local students go to college in the foundations’ past 28 years.

Bonnie Sutton, President of ACCESS, welcomed the group in and was among the first to talk to the sea of blue shirts.

“I’ve gotten a chance to look at some of your records, and I have to say in the past 28 years I’ve never been more proud of a graduating class in my life, ” Sutton said.

ACCESS will follow these students to college, to ensure they are able to continue their education, but for now, ACCESS is focusing on congratulating students on their college decisions.