Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter and actor NE-YO will join Get Schooled to serve as “Principal for the Day” at The High School of Fashion Industries in Chelsea to recognize students for leading the Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge with the highest rate of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion among seniors and participation in Challenge activities among all students. At the school, 68 percent of seniors completed the FAFSA application this year, representing a 20 percent increase from 2014. Student ambassadors from Bronx Lighthouse College Prep Academy will also be recognized as a runner up in Round 2 of the Challenge. A total of 4,000 seniors in participating high schools completed the FAFSA, accessing as much as $20M in financial aid for their college education.
As celebrity guest principal, NE-YO will meet with staff and students at The High School of Fashion Industries and participate in a school-wide assembly with more than 1,700 students, where he will answer student questions, share his experience in the music industry and discuss the merit of pursuing higher education. NE-YO will be joined on stage by radio DJ Angela Yee, a graduate of Wesleyan University, who will serve as emcee for the assembly and share her experiences with students. Select students will also participate in an onstage contest, judged by NE-YO. They will also be joined by representatives from Capital One and Get Schooled, who will officially recognize the school as the winner of this round of the Challenge. The High School of Fashion Industries is currently participating in the Capital One Bank NYC College Challenge, a friendly competition that includes 60 high schools serving close to 40,000 high school students in grades 9-12 across New York City. The Challenge is designed to encourage high school students to explore college opportunities, apply to college and access financial aid for college. At each school, student ambassadors are spearheading the effort by mobilizing their classmates to participate in the competition, by applying to college and for financial aid.