The school’s large theatre was packed, standing room only, filled with parents, media, students and faculty as Heritage High School held its first official signing day event in the school’s six-year history.

Athletic Director David Drake explained the NLI contract and stated that "99.5 percent of all high school athletes are done after high school. Only 0.5 percent make it. The odds are stacked against you. You don’t get a scholarship by luck; it takes skill, hard work, dedication and success in the classroom." He then introduced six student-athletes who were offered scholarships.

Julio Calyx was playing football for Perris High School at the beginning of the school year until his family moved into the Heritage school district. He only played a half-season for the Patriots but earned All-Sunbelt League and was selected as a Riverside County All-Star. He will attend Western New Mexico State University.

All-League Varsity softball player and two-year varsity tennis player, Briana Contreras, will be signing in the late signing period (April) to attend the University of North Carolina Central in Durham to play softball. "I fell in love with the campus and beautiful brick buildings; the food is bomb and the girls were great!"

Brittany Rayls lettered for three years in softball and once in golf. She will be playing softball at York College in Nebraska. "It’s a good Christian atmosphere and the coaches showed genuine interest in me."

Also committing to Division 2 Western New Mexico State is three-year varsity football letterman Marvin Hifo, who was selected Sunbelt Defensive MVP, All-CIF and a Riverside County All-Star. "I want to thank the coaches here for putting up with me since freshman year."

"I watched this day on TV as a kid and now I know dreams can come true!" Running back Jamal Morrow was a three-year letterman in football and track, and for the last two years he was Sunbelt League MVP, All-Valley Offensive MVP, and All-CIF. He will be attending Washington State University. "I thank God for the opportunity and my parents and brother for supporting me through the crazy process. Even when I got hurt (meniscus), Coach Leach (WSU) said to keep ballin’ and to have the mindset that I will get playing time there."

All-Valley and All-CIF cornerback Darius Allensworth had a tough journey. The three-year football letterman and two-year track letterman was verbally committed to Arizona early in his junior year, but decided on UC Berkeley in August after visiting there. An ACL tear ended his senior season early. Then Cal head coach Jeff Tedford got fired after 11 seasons there. "The new head coach and the other coaches have been visiting me and I decided to stay true to my commitment. It’s a great place for an education. I thank God and my family." He also spoke for all his fellow signees in remembrance of Donovan Adams, a popular classmate and inspiring student-athlete who was killed in a car accident last year.

The Signing Day event was a huge celebration of achievement and inspirational to many. "I will be up there next year," said one student-athlete on the way back to class.