HBCU
Howard Univ. Students Excited Over Speaker
Official portrait of President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 13, 2009.
(Photo by Pete Souza)
By Imani Fox and Kishana Flenory
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Howard University News Service
(TriceEdneyWire.com)
Howard University students reeled with excitement in reaction to the news that President Barack Obama will deliver the address for their May 7 commencement.
“We were freshmen in high school when he first got elected and we were freshmen in college when he got re-elected,” said graduating senior Jeremiah Jones. “So, we were a part of his legacy in the eight years he led the United States.”
Howard University President, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick announced Obama’s visit in a statement issued to students and employees.
Frederick said the event will impact Howard far beyond the commencement. “President Obama’s own legacy gives the Howard community great expectations for the leadership footprint it will leave on America and the globe.” Makaela James, a senior public relations major, said with this also being the president’s last full year in office, it gives the moment an even greater significance to hear one of his final speeches.
