WhatAMoment! Celebrating Memorable Milestones with CIS and Whataburger
There are moments in life that mark a milestone, and then there are moments that change how a young person sees their future.
This graduation season, Communities In Schools and Whataburger came together to create memories with WhatAMoment, a multi-city experience designed to celebrate students not just for reaching graduation but for everything it took to get there.
Across Georgia (Atlanta and Athens), Tennessee (Nashville) and North Carolina (Charlotte), nearly 500 students (including approximately 250 case-managed students) were honored through a series of high-impact events and experiences that transformed graduation into an unforgettable moment.
For many of our students, graduation represents more than a milestone. It represents perseverance, belonging and a future that feels within reach. We are proud to celebrate them along with all the individuals – from parents and relatives to teachers – who helped them cross the finish line.
– Rey Saldaña, President and CEO, CIS National
From the moment students walked into each event, they were met with positive energy and an atmosphere curated especially for them: photo stations, storytelling booths, celebratory meals and spaces designed to capture pride and reflection.
Capturing Pride in Athens
At Cedar Shoals High School, the WhatAMoment graduation photoshoot gave students the opportunity to step in front of the lens and see themselves as graduates and as individuals with unlimited potential.
Zowee Strong, a proud Cedar Shoals alumna and Family Connection-CIS of Athens site coordinator, helped bring that experience to life. Reflecting on the day, she shared: “The WhatAMoment and grad photo shoot in Athens was such a special experience, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.”
For Zowee, the moment was personal.
When she graduated from Cedar Shoals in 2014, she didn’t yet know the impact she would one day have on students walking those same halls. Now, nearly 12 years later, she serves as one of two CIS coordinators at the school and works every day to ensure students feel supported.
Zowee has high hopes for the Class of 2026:
I want them to continue to reach those standards that no one thought they could. I want them to accomplish their wildest dreams. Even the dreams they haven’t dreamed of yet.
Connecting with Students Across Generations
While celebrating current graduates was the primary focus of the events and experiences, future graduates had their moment in Nashville.
CIS of Tennessee organized a special Kids Day celebration for pre-K-5 students, cheering them on as they matriculated to the next grade while older students participated in a field day as well as a college and career fair.
Every student has a story worth celebrating. When strategic partnerships, powerful storytelling, and intentional brand experiences come together, they create more than an event—they create a moment where students feel seen, valued and excited about what’s next. That’s what WhatAMoment is all about.”
– Kevin Lei, Principal, Events and External Engagement, CIS National
An Element of Surprise
Across all four cities, the energy of celebration was felt. But that energy reached a new level during unforgettable moments in Charlotte, Athens and Nashville.
As graduates opened their Whataburger tote bags, they discovered iPads waiting inside.
The reactions were immediate. Audible gasps. Laughter. Students turning to their friends in disbelief. For some, it felt like winning the lottery.
And in Atlanta, support came in equally meaningful ways. A raffle awarded $3,000 in gift cards and iPads to selected scholars, while $4,000 was invested in creating care packages for first-generation college students.
But what made these moments lasting wasn’t just the surprise. It was what it represented.
Those devices and care packages are now tools for the future and a connection point to opportunity.
More Than a Celebration
Many CIS staff members noted that what stood out to them most beyond the gifts and activations was the students’ transformation.
Many who began the events cool and reserved left energized and hopeful. Conversations shifted from “remember when…” to “what’s next?”
That is the true power of WhatAMoment.
It’s not simply about celebrating student achievement. It’s about making sure students feel seen, supported and valued at a pivotal moment in their lives.
And this graduation season, thanks to the continued partnership between CIS and Whataburger, hundreds of students are stepping into their future with confidence.
