“I am so proud and honored to be a part of this entire process,” said Principal Von Washington Jr., of Kalamazoo Central High School. “It has been my dream to meet the first African American president of the United States who made history. Now, his history is connected to our history here at Kalamazoo Central.”
Washington said it is the community, educational institutes and everyone in Kalamazoo who has worked together to make this happen. He said the students deserve to be recognized for their hard work in many areas from band, to debate and basketball, and various other areas.
The school was selected from nearly 1,000 around the country whose students created a video about why their school should be selected to host Obama for their graduation. Kalamazoo Central made the top three and were voted on through the White House’s website which featured the competition.
Washington said he always tells his students that when you work hard, “good things will come to you.”
“The students really put their hearts into this video and we want to continue to foster that kind of enthusiasm in our students all the time. People rarely get a comprehensive look at a school, and the many good things they do,” said Washington who has been head principal of the school for the past three years.
“A lot goes into helping our students succeed on a daily basis, and part of what this honor means to us, is that others see it too,” Washington said.
According to a statement on Whitehouse.gov/commencement, “each of the five finalists represented the best that American public education has to offer and has demonstrated tremendous dedication and grace throughout the competition.”
Each of the other five schools will have a Cabinet secretary or senior administration official deliver their address. The other schools include: Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, KS, Clark Montessori in Cincinnati, OH, Denver School of Science and Technology in Denver, Colorado, Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, CA, and MAST Academy in Miami, FL -represents the best that American public education has to offer and has demonstrated tremendous dedication and grace throughout the competition.
Washington is excited about President Obama’s visit, he said he has made new friends with the principals of the others schools and will keep in touch with them.
“The other schools are top-rate, and being a part of this reaffirms we are all doing great things,” Washington said.
The commencements will be held on June 7 at Western Michigan Univerity Arena. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for those with tickets.
Kalamazoo Central High School, the largest school in KPS, is a diverse mix of 1700 students. In the last month, its boys’ basketball team won the state Class A basketball championship for the first time in 59 years. The school’s mock trial team placed second in the state mock trial competition, and its band received a silver medal at a national competition in Orlando, Fl.
In November 2005, then-Superintendent Dr. Janice Brown announced the Kalamazoo Promise, free college tuition for eligible high school graduates, the gift of anonymous donors. Since the announcement of this unique program, Promise scholarships have been provided to 1516 students, many of whom are among the first generation to attend college in their families.
Current Superintendent Michael F. Rice has challenged KPS staff and community to create a college-going culture. One measure of this effort is at the high school level, where Advanced Placement (AP) participation has increased substantially in the last two years. Compared to two years ago, 71 percent more students are taking Advanced Placement courses in the district, and students are taking 79 percent more AP courses. During this same timeframe, the numbers of economically disadvantaged students, African-American students, and Latino students have increased 148 percent, 166 percent, and 400 percent, respectively.
“Our work on creating a college-going culture is consistent with the president’s goal to become the nation with the highest college graduation rate by 2020,” said Rice. “It is also consistent with the needs of our students as they enter a 21st century, global economy.”
