Kalamazoo (MI) Central High School was the winner out of over 1,000 U.S. high schools to have President Barack Obama as 2010 Commencement Speaker. The commencement is tonight (June 7 2010) at 7 p.m. at Western Michigan University, also located in Kalamazoo.
Below is Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announcing Kalamazoo Central High School as the winner. All of Michigan is excited and proud of Kalamazoo Central High School.
We will post the video of the commencement speech tomorrow.
Calling all Michiganders! Kalamazoo Central High School is one of only six semi-finalists out of over 1,000 schools who entered the "Commencement Challenge" by the White House to "win" President Barack Obama as the commencement speaker!
Each school submitted a video to the White House; here is the one from Kalamazoo Central High School.
The online voting is open to everyone in the country. We know that Kalamazoo Central High School has worked very hard on its improvement over the past several years--they DESERVE to win! We also know that Kalamazoo is a relatively small city, so they need the votes of every Michigander! Here is what Kalamazoo Central High School told the White House:
Kalamazoo Central High School
Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo Central is a diverse, dynamic and dedicated community of students and staff committed to our district’s mission: Every Child, Every Opportunity, Every Time. We challenge ourselves to take more AP classes (an increase of 221% in 4 years); we involve ourselves in our community through activism such as PeaceJam; and we take classes such as aviation technology and construction trades that prepare us for careers and college. Our relationships with teachers and staff empower us all to form a united bond and a belief in our end goal: changing the world through education. Since 2006, 91% of all Kalamazoo Central graduates have attended college, affirming a college going culture in a vibrant community of 1700. The Kalamazoo Promise—free college tuition for all—gives us the opportunity to achieve our college dreams. Our superintendent phrased it best:
“If you’re looking for a community where going to college is a birthright, then Kalamazoo Public Schools isn’t it; but, if you’re looking for a community trying to send a whole host of students to college, then Kalamazoo Central is a model of that success.”
We no longer merely hope for a future; we are confident that we are the future.
