Filed under: News, President Obama
In April, BlackVoices.com profiled President Barack Obama's Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, where hundreds of high schools across the country competed for a chance to have the President deliver their commencement speech.
Wayne Early/Middle College High School of Goldsboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, School for Creative and Performing Arts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Science Park High of Newark, New Jersey; Bridgeport High School of Bridgeport, Washington; High Tech High International of San Diego, California; and Booker T. Washington High School of Memphis, Tennessee, were the finalists, and the President asked the public to help him in making his final decision.
On Tuesday, the White House announced that Booker T. Washington High is the winner!
Booker T. Washington used their 22 percent increase in graduation rates from 2007 to 2010 and a gritty-yet-inspirational video as their chief selling points, making them stand tall above the rest. Washington was able to take their adversity and turn it into a success they could be proud of, which takes creativity, iron-clad willpower and keen intelligence.
President Obama created the Commencement challenge out of a desire to have American schools have the most college graduates by 2020. I'm certain that President Obama's presence in this hardworking institution will only propel them even further.
Watch Washington's winning appeal here:
Congratulations, Booker T. Washington!