President Obama traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, to deliver the commencement address at Booker T. Washington High School, the winner of the 2011 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. Booker T. Washington was one of three nationwide finalists in the contest, which was created as part of Obama’s goal for the U.S. to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020
The field was narrowed down from several hundred applications to a group of six schools in early April. The White House announced the three finalists on May 3. In addition to Booker T. Washington, the other finalists were Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Wash., and High Tech High in San Diego.
While in Memphis, the President will meet with families impacted by the flooding, state and local officials, first responders, and volunteers. Later the President will welcome the University of Connecticut’s men’s basketball team to the White House for a ceremony honoring their 2011 NCAA National Championship.
