College Signing Day 2025: Doubling Down on Celebrating DC Students

COLLEGE SIGNING DAY 2025 – DOUBLING DOWN ON CELEBRATING DC STUDENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Washington, D.C. – The DC College Access Program (DC CAP Scholars) is thrilled to announce the return of College Signing Day for 2025, a powerful annual celebration of DC high school seniors’ post-secondary education commitments and the promise of their transformative futures. This year’s celebration will take place on April 11, 2025, at the Capital One Arena, and will build on the incredible energy of 2024, which featured Former First Lady Michelle Obama as the keynote speaker. 

Last year’s celebration brought together over 2,500 students from across the DC area and featured special performances by TOB, a DC Go-Go band, the Benjamin Banneker Academic Senior High School Cheer team, and The War & Treaty, a Grammy-nominated country duo. This year, DC CAP is aiming even higher, continuing its mission to close the higher education achievement gap and foster a culture of post-secondary success in the District. College Signing Day 2025 will also serve as a milestone in DC CAP’s progress toward a city-wide 2050 Moonshot Goal, an ambitious initiative to achieve an 80% six-year college graduation rate for all D.C. students by 2050. 

Details about speakers and performances will be announced in the coming months, promising an unforgettable experience that matches the high-energy celebrations of years past. 

“This event is about more than celebration—it’s about belief in a more robust future for our city,” said Eric Waldo, President and CEO of DC CAP. “Last year, having Michelle Obama join us as keynote speaker showed what’s possible when a community comes together to support its young people. We hope to make College Signing Day 2025 even bigger, inviting more students and families to celebrate their accomplishments and continue working toward a future where we can unlock college success for every D.C. student.” 

Ted Leonsis, Chairman of DC CAP and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, added, “College Signing Day showcases the best of what this city has to offer: hope, opportunity, and determination. At DC CAP, we’re not just celebrating commitments—we’re driving outcomes. Over the years, we’ve empowered thousands of college graduates and awarded millions in scholarships. This year, we’re doubling down on our commitment to the next generation of D.C. leaders.” 

DC CAP invites students, educators, families, and community partners to join this celebration of achievement and possibility. College Signing Day 2025 is more than an event—it’s a movement to inspire every student to dream big and achieve even bigger. 

About DC CAP 

The DC College Access Program (DC CAP Scholars) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the higher education achievement gap for DC students by helping them access and attain meaningful college degrees with little to no debt. DC CAP believes that a student’s personal circumstances should never determine their ability to succeed. By leveraging dollars, connecting students to better match universities, and providing wraparound support, DC CAP works to ensure students graduate ready to compete in today’s economy. 

For media inquiries, please contact: alexander.vassiliadis@dccap.org

About DC CAP

The DC College Access Program (DC CAP Scholars) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the higher education achievement gap for DC students by helping them access and attain meaningful college degrees with little to no debt. DC CAP believes that a student’s personal circumstances should never determine their ability to succeed. By leveraging dollars, connecting students to better match universities, and providing wraparound support, DC CAP works to ensure students graduate ready to compete in today’s economy.