Kalamazoo High School Scores The Ultimate Graduation Speaker - President Obama

The students at Kalamazoo Central High School can't wait for graduation day - Not, because they are finally done with high school, but because their graduation speaker will be none other than the President of the United States - Mr. Barack Obama!

How did the Western Michigan based public school do it? By beating out 1000 schools in the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, posed to public high schools all over the country, by President Obama.

The contest aimed to improve schools and raise graduation rates, required applicants to send in their academic scores, answer four questions about their school and send in a self-promoting video.

Officials at the White House and Education department picked the top six finalists and then asked the public to vote for the final three. Over 170,000 people weighed in, selecting Clark Montessori Junior High and High School in Cincinnatti, DenverSchool of Science and Technology and Kalamazoo Central. The President, picked the winner.

The school of 1,700 boasts an eighty percent graduation rate, of which 91 percent go to college. Kalamazoo's impressive enrollment statistics can be attributed to the Kalamazoo Promise - a scholarship program set up by a group of anonymous donors, for students who get accepted by a state college or university, but can't afford the expense.

While Kalamazoo had great academic numbers, convincing essays and this amazing video about their school, we believe what clinched the deal with President Obama is their awesome basketball team, The Kalamazoo Giants. What do you think? Be sure to let us know by adding your comments below.

sources:christiansciencemonitor.com,topcolleges.com/blog, whitehouse.gov/commencemen