commencement speech

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Michelle Obama to GWU Grads: 'Keep Giving'

First lady urges new alumni to stay involved

(Newser) - When Michelle Obama agreed to be George Washington University's commencement speaker, she challenged the school's 5,000 seniors to do 100,000 hours of community service. They completed 163,980 hours, reports the Washington Post , spurring the first lady to joke at today's ceremony that if she had known they...

Obama Calls on Black College Grads to Be Role Models

Speaking at Hampton U., president says education helps break down barriers

(Newser) - President Obama delivered the commencement address at a historically black college today for the first time since taking office. He called on the graduates of Hampton University in Virginia to "be role models for your brothers and sisters, to be mentors in your communities and, when the time comes,...

Obama's Commencement Request: Civility

Like Glenn Beck? Try Huffington Post, too, he says

(Newser) - President Obama tried to play peacemaker today in his commencement address at the University of Michigan, criticizing the angry politics of our age and urging both sides to tone it down. "Throwing around phrases like 'socialists' and 'Soviet-style takeover,' 'fascists' and 'right-wing nut'—that may grab headlines,"...

White House Dangles Obama Commencement Speech

Public school voted tops will land president

(Newser) - If your high school commencement speech was some guy from the Chamber of Commerce, the White House has a less nap-inducing alternative: The public school voted most dedicated to prepping its kids for college and career will get a graduation address from one Barack Obama. Six finalist schools are on...

Michelle: Sotomayor 'Ready'
 Michelle: Sotomayor 'Ready' 
Jun 3, 2009 1:41 PM CDT

Michelle: Sotomayor 'Ready'

(Newser) - Michelle Obama threw herself into the Sotomayor debate today in a commencement address she gave to a DC charter school, Politico reports. She likened Sotomayor’s experience to hers and her husband’s, recalling people “sowing seeds of doubt” about them. “Judge Sotomayor is more than ready,”...

Obama Talks Terror at Navy Graduation

(Newser) - President Obama reiterated his wish to close Guantanamo Bay and rein in harsh interrogation techniques in an address today to graduates of the Naval Academy, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We uphold our fundamental principles and values not because we choose to, but because we swear to,” he...

A Win for Obama, Moderate Catholics
 A Win for Obama, 
 Moderate Catholics 
OPINION
May 18, 2009 7:52 AM CDT

A Win for Obama, Moderate Catholics

President's Notre Dame speech was radical and conservative: Dionne

(Newser) - Abortion opponents protested and pro-life students skipped, but Barack Obama's Notre Dame commencement address was at once "the most radical and the most conservative speech of his presidency," writes Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne. The president refused to indulge the protesters' desire to "reignite the culture wars,...

Obama Calls for 'Open Minds, Fair-Minded Words'

(Newser) - Speaking amid the swirl of controversy as his pro-choice views and the pro-life values of a Catholic university collided, President Obama today called for "open minds" and "fair-minded words" in Notre Dame's debate surrounding abortion, reports the AP. Amid heckles and students booing hecklers, Obama faced the treacherous...

Michelle to California Grads: We Need You

First lady exhorts public service as 12K attend speech to 500 grads

(Newser) - While her husband’s commencement speeches were plagued by controversy, Michelle Obama received adoration from graduates at the University of California, Merced, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. During a 29-minute address on a 100-degree day, the first lady encouraged graduates to pursue public service careers. “We are going to...

Obama Speaks at Notre Dame Today Amid Protests, Vigils

(Newser) - Students at Notre Dame upset that President Obama will deliver today's commencement address began an all-night prayer vigil Saturday night, reports AP. Earlier, campus police arrested 19 anti-abortion protesters—none of them students—and charged them with trespassing, notes CNN. The invitation to pro-choice Obama has raised a ruckus at...

Obama to ASU Grads: What Snub? They Were Right

(Newser) - President Obama has no problem with the so-called snub from Arizona State University. In fact, he embraced it tonight in a speech to graduates and used it to encourage them, reports the Arizona Republic. "I come here not to dispute the suggestion that I haven't yet achieved enough in...

Notre Dame Splits on Obama Speech, Protests

Students excited about visit, not pleased with activists' tactics

(Newser) - As President Obama's commencement speech at Notre Dame approaches, pro-life activists have converged on the campus with banners, planes, and plans for civil disobedience. But students, who expressed pride that the president chose their school, aren't too happy with the protests. "It cheapens the argument. As someone who is...

'Dr. Dolly' Wows, Advises Tenn. Graduates

There's 'a heart beneath these,' Parton tells capacity crowd

(Newser) - Dolly Parton roused the crowd at the University of Tennessee’s graduation ceremonies today, during which the singer/tycoon received an honorary doctorate, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. “I am Dr. Dolly!” she said. “When people say something about ‘double-d,’ they will be thinking of something...

No Degree, But ASU Names Scholarship for Obama

University tries to save face after degree fiasco

(Newser) - Arizona State University won’t award President Obama an honorary degree during his commencement visit next month, but it will rename a scholarship program for him, the AP reports. ASU’s president, mocked for his refusal to grant Obama the degree, apologized for the “confusion.” “It has...

ASU Backtracks on Honorary Obama Degree

University still deciding on commencement gesture, president says

(Newser) - Deluged by a tidal wave of mockery, Arizona State University today set the stage for a flip-flop on its decision not to give President Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement May 13, its president tells Politico. The Tempe school will “honor him in every way possible,...

No Honorary Degree for Obama: ASU
No Honorary Degree for Obama: ASU
OPINION
Apr 10, 2009 10:34 AM CDT

No Honorary Degree for Obama: ASU

What? 'First black president' isn't 'achievement' enough?

(Newser) - Barack Obama probably doesn’t need the extra diploma, but it’s usually considered a package deal: give a commencement speech, get an honorary degree. Arizona State, lucky enough to get Obama as its speaker, has decided that the leader of the free world isn't worthy of one. Seriously. An...

Cardinal: Notre Dame Forgot How to Be Catholic

(Newser) - Cardinal Francis George of Chicago ratcheted up the criticism of Notre Dame for inviting President Obama to give a commencement speech in May, the Tribune reports. The school “didn’t understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation,” said George. Catholic groups have criticized...

College's Persistence Pays Off: First Lady to Speak

(Newser) - Seniors at the University of California, Merced, couldn't rely on a wealthy and established network of alumni to reel in a famous commencement speaker. The UC system's newest campus has yet to graduate a full senior class and only has a handful of alumni. But that didn't keep this year's...

Bishop to Skip Obama Event Over Stem Cells, Abortion

(Newser) - The Roman Catholic bishop whose diocese includes the University of Notre Dame says he will boycott President Obama's May 17 commencement speech at the school because of Obama's support for abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research. John D'Arcy said today that Obama's recent decision to fund embryonic stem-cell research brought...

'Star' Hillary Keeps Vow With Bronx Grad Speech

Attends teenager's high school graduation

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton was given a rock star's reception yesterday at her first public appearance in New York since surrendering the Democratic field to to Barack Obama. She presented the graduation address at Pelham Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, fulfilling a promise she made years ago to attend the commencement of...

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