Obama could speak at Blue Valley Northwest's Graduation?! Cool!

Put your political views aside and think if it from a student's perspective:  There's a chance that the President could speak at my graduation?  A chance to hear a speech from someone that has actually achieved great strides in life and not from a student that happened to score the highest grades?  A chance to be inspired by someone that has made history and not from someone that happened to blow the grade curves?

Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but still...Read below and cast your vote!


Blue Valley Northwest (BVNW) is one of six U.S. high schools selected as finalists in the first annual Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge, a contest sponsored by the White House and the United States Department of Education. The winning school will receive a visit from President Obama who will deliver the 2010 commencement address.

Go to www.whitehouse.gov/commencement to check out Blue Valley Northwest's entry  and to cast your vote. Voting will be open from Monday, April 26 at 8:00 a.m. EST until Thursday, April 29 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

President Obama will select the national winner from the three schools who receive the most votes.

"I am proud of the students because they determined that this is something they wanted to pursue and have done everything possible to make it happen," said Amy Murphy, principal at Blue Valley Northwest. "Our students are taught to look beyond the walls of BVNW and the Blue Valley School District. Because of the support and guidance they have received, these students want to impact their communities, their state and their country."

The students are proud to hold their school up as a model for high school success. They truly believe that they will be successful post high school because they know how much the staff members at BVNW care about them. The family atmosphere at their school is an important theme in their message to the nation.

"The point of this contest is to pick the school that is the best model for all US high schools," said Cody Cutter, Blue Valley Northwest senior and Race to the Top Commencement Challenge team member. "When you look at the purpose of the contest and consider the spirit that permeates everything about Blue Valley Northwest, I think voters will see that our school is the right choice."