Obama’s High School Commencement Challenge
EmailFrom Sunlen Miller:
President Obama has a challenge for the nation’s public high schools: Prove your school is the best, and he’ll come speak to your graduation this year.
"I’m excited to announce the first annual race to the top high school commencement challenge," President Obama says in the video message, "Just go to whitehouse.gov/commencement, and fill out an application by march 15th telling us why your school is special and why it should be a model for other schools around the country working to boost attendance and increase the number of graduates prepared for college or a career.”
High schools are instructed to complete four essay questions focused “on demonstrating how the school is helping prepare students to meet the President’s 2020 goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world,” the White House says.
"This spring I’ll visit the winning school to speak at commencement," the president promises, "Good luck and thank you for doing your part to help make our students the best and brightest in the world."
Applicants can also submit video or “supplemental data” – like attendance rate or graduation rate – for consideration as well.
The White House says applications will be judged based on the school’s performance and dedication to an education that will prepare them to graduate ready for college and career choices.
Six finalists will be selected by the White House and Department of Education. These schools will then be featured on the White House website and the public will have an opportunity to vote for the three schools they think best meet the President’s goal.
The President will select a national winner from these three finalists and visit the winning high school to deliver the commencement address to the class of 2010.
The First Lady has issued a similar challenge to George Washington University – if their student body completes 100,000 hours of community serve this year, Mrs. Obama has promised to speak at their graduation.
-Sunlen Miller
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What a Prez we have!!!
Posted by: smartlillena | February 19, 2010, 7:07 am 7:07 am
I wonder who comes to speak if you get 2nd place? Biden? I’ve seen Biden speak at commencements before. Hope he doesn’t bring up the drunken truck driver story again. It makes the crowd ill over how pathetic a lie it was.
While I am sorry Joe lost family members he has no right to imply the truck driver was drunk when police had cleared him of any wrong doing.
But that doesn’t stop Joe from saying it over and over… at Univ of Iowa and Univ of Delaware commencement speeches.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/24/eveningnews/main4890564.shtml
Posted by: denbo | February 19, 2010, 7:51 am 7:51 am
His arrogance knows no bounds. How about those kids — instead of spending all this time showing how they’re meeting the president’s goals — instead …. um, go to class? Study? Meet their own darn goals instead of his!
There’s an idea.
Posted by: liz | February 19, 2010, 9:19 am 9:19 am
I challenge Obama to release HIS records from college and High School
Posted by: What? | February 19, 2010, 10:54 am 10:54 am
This is another political ploy by the President. Some rich suburban school in a toss-up state will win it.
Instead of this why doesn’t he pressure his own party to restore the funding they cut for the DC Opportunity Scholarship Fund? If he ‘cared’ about education he would have jumped down Harry Reid’s throat about that funding. The Democrats effectively ended a chance for 1000s of DC students to get a good educations thanks to a highly successful voucher program that was opposed by the Democrats’ friends in the teacher’s unions. Of course, since Obama gets 98% support from DC voters they will probably hail this as a wonderful thing while 1700 students each year will have to suffer at the hands of the DC school system. If you are a poor black student you get a seat on the back of the Democratic school bus. The teachers unions have all the seats up front next to Harry and Nancy.
Posted by: Mad Jayhawk | February 19, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am
When are you going to focus on JOBS, Mr. President?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | February 19, 2010, 11:27 am 11:27 am
How about you promise to stay away and we’ll do our part. Thanks, I’m with Oscar Goodman.
Posted by: pauldia | February 19, 2010, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
When are you going to focus on JOBS, Mr. President?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | Feb 19, 2010 11:27:33 AM
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Hahahaha . . . where have you been? Ground control to wheresmymoney.
Posted by: tierra | February 19, 2010, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
“I challenge Obama to release HIS records from college and High School”
High school?
What no demand for kindergarten records?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 19, 2010, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
“President Obama has a challenge for the nation’s public high schools: Prove your school is the best, and he’ll come speak to your graduation this year.”
Yeah, but what do they win?
Posted by: Doughboy | February 19, 2010, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
I predict widespread intentional failure just to avoid Obama from speaking at their school. Obama cannot help but be so full of himself that he thinks he would “grace” a school by his presence. Why would any school want to oblige his conceit and vanity?
Posted by: EPU | February 19, 2010, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
“I predict widespread intentional failure just to avoid Obama from speaking at their school.”
Right wing logic at its finest.
“Why would any school want to oblige his conceit and vanity?”
Georgetown and Notre Dame did…even though right wingers were angry.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 19, 2010, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
This ” President ? ” is so……Sad.
He really needs to get a job.
Posted by: Helen S | February 19, 2010, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
So… work and study hard and you’ll get .. what? Something you get everyday on the TV only in person? I bet half of the speech (aside from being pre-written for any school) is the same recycled stuff.. hope.. change.. etc etc
Posted by: Ilpalazzo | February 19, 2010, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Posted by: EPU | Feb 19, 2010 3:22:09 PM
He’s President of the United States. Despite your rude opinions and disrespect. High school students are sharper than some.
Posted by: tierra | February 19, 2010, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
BOOOSSSHHHH!!!
Posted by: David Johnson | February 19, 2010, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Well, the Left demanded all of Bush’s high school, college, grad school, military records.
why don’t these same Left wingers demand that Obama release his college records? I would ask for his military record, but Obama was getting high, having sexual affairs and snorting coke when many of us were serving in the miliary.
And if Obama comes to speak in my kids high school, I will not allow my child to go to his graduation. Why? because my son is smart enough to know that Obama is a joke and my son would probably stand up and give his back to this sad joke, Obama. Don’t want Obama taking revenge on my kid.
And remember Left wingers, we Conservatives will give President Obama the same respect, loyalty, benefit of the doubt that you Liberals, you Democrats, you Left wingers gave to President Bush.
Posted by: CJ | February 19, 2010, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
Georgetown and Notre Dame did…even though right wingers were angry.
Posted by: Ryan C | Feb 19, 2010 3:26:11 PM
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Yeah, that is when it was cool and “in” to be an Obama supporter. You know how you Left wingers are such sheeps that are worried about what other people are going to say.
I have seen it with my Liberal friends, work collegues, etc. Now they don’t like Obama because it is no longer cool.
Only an idiot would like to hear this buffoon give a speech. The man can’t give a speech without saying the words, “Me, I, myself, for me” over 200 times. We have a naive, foolish, inexperience joke as a President.
Obama promised that unemployment would never rise about 8% if his stimulus package passed, we are at 9.7% and we will go higher. I thought Liberals held their politicians to their promises? yeah right!
Posted by: CJ | February 19, 2010, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
At our school, they’re having an essay contest to keep him OUT of town.
Posted by: Mothra The Magnificent | February 19, 2010, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
What is second prize? Two speeches?
Posted by: thevor | February 19, 2010, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
This guy has a mad crush on himself. Is he a salesman/game show host?
Posted by: Steve | February 19, 2010, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
All sizzle, no steak.
Posted by: Steve | February 19, 2010, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
….chooses a school in a battleground state in …3…..2….and…..
Posted by: Mr. Big | February 19, 2010, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
Win a speech from Obama?
Wow, we NEVER get to see those…
Posted by: merle | February 19, 2010, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
He can just put all his speeches on an Ipod and give one to each of the kids. They’ll be looking for the delete option so fast it will make your head spin. Wonder if Queen Elizabeth has already flushed hers down the toilet cause she couldn’t get it to shut up.
Posted by: gk | February 19, 2010, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Barack Obama, world’s biggest celebrity.
Posted by: Celebrity Over Leadership | February 19, 2010, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
Let’s see Obama’s Communist Manifesto undergrad thesis from Columbia. He’ll release details of his children’s grades–but not his own.
Posted by: Obamatopia | February 19, 2010, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
When are you going to focus on JOBS, Mr. President?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | Feb 19, 2010 11:27:33 AM
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Hahahaha . . . where have you been? Ground control to wheresmymoney.
Posted by: tierra | Feb 19, 2010 12:53:49 PM
NO, we mean actually DO SOMETHING, not just make more pretty speeches.
Posted by: Job Czar | February 19, 2010, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
The Indonesian imbecile is at it again.
Everything he does belittles the office of President.
This is supposed to be a day for the graduates, not him.
And just how much is this going to cost the taxpayers?
Posted by: Kekela Ward | February 19, 2010, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
Our children needs the motivation to become top flight citizens that will continue to make our country strong and “smart”….Education is the antidote to Ignorance….sorry for those that want to remain ignorant and stagnated with racism and hate. The world is moving right along. Get busy America’s children and become the Best and the Brightest the world has to offer.
Posted by: sara | February 19, 2010, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
Education is the antidote to Ignorance…
Posted by: sara | Feb 19, 2010 7:38:59 PM
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Too bad our educational system is more focused on indoctrination rather than education…
Posted by: Quo Warranto | February 19, 2010, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm
This guy can’t get enough of himself. “Tell us why your school is great and you win….ME!” Oh, it and has to be a public school — one that hasn’t been particularly great, but is showing a lot of promise in some administrator’s subjective self-serving eyes. What a friggin’ joke (both the contest and the prize).
Posted by: exnyer | February 20, 2010, 12:01 am 12:01 am
Posted by: exnyer | Feb 20, 2010 12:01:14 AM
He’s the President of the United States.
Posted by: tierra | February 20, 2010, 3:05 am 3:05 am
cj why don’t either take over or challenge him in 2012,you seem very smart and knowledgable
Posted by: pana | February 20, 2010, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Hi, My school submitted an application and has anyone heard when the finalists will be announced??
thanks
Posted by: Miranda Sammet | March 18, 2010, 11:17 am 11:17 am
I hope my daughters high school wins!!!…it would be a honor for a president who is not only making changes realistic, but he is trying to keep his promises during some of the toughest times in our history…THANK-YOU!!!!–It’s not what your country can do for YOU, but what can YOU do for your country!
Posted by: Dee | April 9, 2010, 9:36 am 9:36 am
LETS GO NORTHWEST!
Posted by: katie | April 23, 2010, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
DSST all the way. one of the six finalists.
Posted by: davis | April 25, 2010, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
We have a man in office that cares about education and it seems a lot of folks are more concerned about bashing him. Other presidents have made huge blunders and we almost place them on a pedestal for their ignorance. Let’s give respect…he did not get us in this financial slump. This has been coming since 2001. The others before him saw the downward spiral and did little to stop it unless you think starting a was was helpful.
Posted by: Sagan | April 30, 2010, 1:56 am 1:56 am
Last line should have read …unless you think starting a war was helpful.
Posted by: Sagan | April 30, 2010, 1:57 am 1:57 am
For all the people here who are bashing and throwing around negativity, why don’t you ask the students at the winning school how they feel about the whole thing afterward. This will be a motivational moment in their lives they will never forget. This is the president of the United States, the Leader of the Free World here chosen by the people. I can’t think of anything more exciting ever for a high school graduation. Plus he’s a really good speaker.
Posted by: Brian | April 30, 2010, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm