PHOTOS & TWEETS: WXYZ honors metro Detroit's 2012 'Brightest & Best' graduating high school seniors

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) - Today we celebrate the achievements of graduating seniors from 256 high schools across metro Detroit at WXYZ's annual Brightest and Best event.

This is the 33rd year of the celebration that included a luncheon to honor students selected by their schools to represent the best of the Class of 2012.

FIND OUT WHO WE'VE HONORED FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS:
http://wxyz.com/brightestandbest

WXYZ on-air personalities met and congratulated the graduates Saturday morning. During the event, Channel 7 cameras captured the fun and excitement.

Short promotional segments identifying the students will be created to air throughout the summer on WXYZ and wxyz.com .

“It is a great privilege to honor the accomplishments of these talented young men and women,” said WXYZ Vice-President and General Manager, Ed Fernandez. “These graduates represent the future, and we are pleased to be able to share their innovative ideas with our community leaders.”

For the second year, Gardner-White has teamed up with WXYZ to offer a $5,000 scholarship to the winner of a Brightest and Best Essay Contest. The students are invited to submit a 500 word essay on how to move our state forward by keeping young graduates working and living in Michigan.

All of their essays  will be delivered to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing for consideration. The essay finalists will be posted on wxyz.com and gardner-white.com and the winner will be announced on 7 Action News in June.