Hampton Bays Middle School hosted its 12th annual College Awareness Day on Jan. 8. The yearly event serves to motivate eighth graders to start thinking about their postsecondary plans.

Hampton Bays High School alumni who are currently enrolled in college led the event, providing the eighth graders with insight and perspective into college life. They answered questions about their college experiences and discussed their typical schedules, as well as their schools’ admissions process and extracurricular offerings. Following their presentation, the alumni spoke to seniors at the high school and answered their questions.

College awareness continued at the middle school throughout the week, as teachers wore their college apparel to school and encouraged students to think about their future alma maters. Students also participated in a door decorating contest, adorning their classroom doors with information about the colleges of their choosing.  

The Hampton Bays School District extends its thanks to the following participating alumni:  Sean Noonan (Penn State University), Thomas O’Connell (Binghamton University), Bridget Hughes (University of South Carolina), Jared Strecker (Syracuse University), Sarah Fassino (University of Rhode Island), Christina Coulton (Binghamton University) Maryrose O’Connell (SUNY Cortland), and Meghan Long (James Madison University).