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Help Decide Which High School Gets Obama as a Commencement Speaker

Six high schools are competing for the President to be their graduation speaker, and it's (partially) up to a public vote.

Liz Dwyer
By Liz DwyerApr 27, 2011
Liz Dwyer
Liz Dwyer is the education editor at GOOD. She was previously the education editor at TakePart and has written about education, parenting, and social justice for several national websites and print publications.
See Full Bio

As part of the "Race to the Top Commencement Challenge," some lucky high school is going to have President Obama speak on campus on graduation day. A public vote, happening this week, will take the current pool of six finalists down to three semi-finalists, and then the President will choose the final winner himself.

Each of the schools—Booker T. Washington High School (Memphis, Tennessee); Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, Washington); High Tech High International (San Diego); Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, School for Creative and Performing Arts (Pittsburgh); Science Park High School (Newark, New Jersey) and Wayne Early Middle College High School (Goldsboro, North Carolina)—made brief videos and wrote short essays spotlighting what makes them unique—whether its diversity, overcoming poverty, or an innovative curriculum.

Go to the Commencement Challenge site before 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 29, 2011 to watch the short videos, read the essays, and vote for your favorite. Good luck to all six!

photo (cc) via Flickr user aflcio

economyvotepittsburghwhite housememphiscurriculumsan diegowashingtonrace to the topnewarknew jerseyvideosnorth carolinabridgeportbooker t. washington high schoolessayswayne early middle college high schoolgoldsboroscience park high schoolpittsburgh capa 6-12school for creative and performing artscommencement challengefridaytennessee; bridgeport high schoolhigh tech high internationalelections and politicsraceeconomic justice

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