The Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge

The Race to the Top

Updated: May 10, 2011

Do you know who's speaking at graduation this year?

More often than not, the valedictorian, the principal and maybe the class president each get a turn at the podium. But how much more likely would you be to stay awake (no offense to the usual speaker suspects) if you had a special guest, known for his oratory skills, sending you off from high school and into the world?

President Obama wants to encourage students and schools to strive for success in academics, personal achievement and college readiness. He has also set a goal for the country -- to have the highest rate of college graduation in the world by 2020. Right now, we're ranked 15th.

The White House Announced the winner of the challenge Tuesday. you can head over to WhiteHouse.gov to find out more about the winner and the competition.

Memphis school wins graduation address from Obama

An academic turnaround at an urban high school with a rich tradition of educating African-Americans has earned graduating seniors a commencement address from President Barack Obama.