Thousands of students celebrate academic goals at I WILL GRADUATE Day at Barclays Center

NEW YORK -- Monday marked the biggest annual celebration of education for Brooklyn nonprofit I WILL GRADUATE, as thousands of New York City students poured into Barclays Center. 

CBS2 is proud partner with the Brooklyn nonprofit, I WILL GRADUATE, under our #BetterTogether campaign.  

Organizers say about 13,000 students were expected at the energetic, star-studded program, which included a pep rally, STEAM expo, basketball clinic, and an opportunity for the kids to really think about their future. 

Imagine on a dreary October morning to be taken out of class and to a massive stadium for something like this. The students made a pledge at the start of the year to take their education seriously, stay focused in school, and graduate on time. That pledge kicked off a six-week program, which included mentorship and specialized curriculum with tutoring. 

As CBS2's Hannah Kliger reported, you could see the excitement on the students' faces. She spoke with a principal and student from Queens who were really excited to participate in a dance competition, just one of the exciting things held. 

"We are coming out of a pandemic and are partially still in a pandemic. Our students need social emotional support,"
Catherine and Count Basie Middle School Principal Ativia Sandusky told Kliger. "So this event today will build their esteem and also encourage them to continue to keep pushing through all the trials and tribulations even that they have faced in life."

"A lot of people don't turn out to what they're destined to be, they go down the wrong path. And for us in my school, we just want to go down the right path," said 13-year-odl Chyna Matthews. 

One of the things that stands out about this program is that a lot of their alumni actually come back to become mentors and volunteers, because they say the nonprofit really touched their lives.