Kzoo Central wins Obama commencement

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - President Barack Obama will speak at Kalamazoo Central High School's commencement next month.

The school was one of three finalists in the inaugural Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.

"I congratulate our winner, Kalamazoo Central High School, and all of our six finalists for their innovative and effective approaches to teaching, learning and preparing students to graduate ready for college and a career," President Obama said in a news release. "I look forward to visiting and speaking at Kalamazoo Central High School later this spring."

Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell said they have begun working on preparations. Initially, the school graduation ceremony was set for  June 10 at 7 p.m. at Wings Stadium. But the graduation ceremony has been rescheduled to Monday, June 7, with time, location and ticket details still to be announced.

The mayor said the Kalamazoo Central students' right attitude and efforts in the classroom helped their school win the competition.

"They have just been working so hard to make this place better, and to be recognized for that hard work, I think we all like that, whether it's our employer or it's our community. I'm just so proud to be a (Maroon) Giant. I'm so proud of this community," Mayor Hopewell said.

"We are delighted to welcome President Obama to Kalamazoo! This honor validates the efforts and success not simply of a school or even of a school district but of an entire broader educational community, from donors to mentors and tutors, who daily work to create a college-going culture for all children in Kalamazoo. While we have by no means arrived, every day we get better at what we do to increase children's college and world readiness," Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice said in a news release.

The commencement challenge, launched in late February, invited the nation's public high schools to submit applications showing their dedication to providing students with an excellent education that will prepare them to graduate ready for college and career choices, and their preparation to meet the President's goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

More than 1,000 schools applied and were judged based on their performance, four essay questions and supplemental data. The list was narrowed down to six finalists, and between April 26-29, more than 170,000 people voted on short videos and essays, cutting the list to three.

Kalamazoo Central, Clark Montessori Jr. & Sr. High School in Cincinnati, and Denver School of Science and Technology were in the final grouping.

The White House and the Department of Education announced the winning school, based on the highest average public ratings, Tuesday morning on the White House website. You can watch that video above.

"The extraordinary applications we received in the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge are a true testament to the great work happening in high school across the country," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in that video. "Congratulations to everyone at Kalamazoo Central High for setting high standards and ensuring students graduate and go on to succeed in college. I look forward to joining the President at their commencement."

Like each of the finalists, Kalamazoo Central goes the extra mile to provide its diverse student body the support they need to succeed in school, attend college, and go on to promising careers, White House officials said in a news release. More than 80 percent of the school's students graduate, and last year the school made its adequate yearly progress goals for the first time in several years for all student groups.

"I mean, I just would have never thought that the President would be at my commencement. We represented our school is such a good way. He's seen us. And it's just doing wonderful things for the district, for our school as a whole, for the city of Kalamazoo," Kalamazoo Central student Nicole Allen told 24 Hour News 8.

"It's a team effort, 100 percent. Absolutely amazing thing. I can't believe. I'd never think we would come this far," said classmate Simon Boehme.

While in school, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of creative programs, such as theme-based schools to improve themselves and support their community. In addition, the Kalamazoo Promise -- a pledge to pay the college tuition costs for Kalamazoo Public School graduates, funded by anonymous donors -- embodies a true community commitment to encourage every student to graduate from high school college- and career-ready.

In recognition of the extraordinary achievements and outstanding efforts by each of the six finalists, the Obama Administration will work to provide a Cabinet secretary or senior administration official to deliver the commencement address at each of the five schools not selected as the national winner.