Michelle Obama speaks to graduates at George Washington’s commencement on the Mall. Melissa Tussing/MNS
WASHINGTON – When George Washington University students completed 100,000 hours of community service, First Lady Michelle Obama agreed to be the school’s commencement speaker.
Obama held up her end of the bargain last Sunday, speaking to more than 5,000 graduates and their friends and families on the National Mall.
Now that the challenge is over, Obama isn’t letting the graduates off easy. She wants the grads to keep serving – abroad.
“So many of today’s challenges are borderless, from the economy to terrorism to climate change, and that solving those problems demands cooperation with others,” Obama said.
Nearly half of George Washington students study abroad. The school also sends the second highest number of students into the Peace Corps than any other school of its size.
With those experiences, she said, GW’s class of 2010 is prepared to face global challenges.
“More than any other generation, yours is fully convinced that you’re uniquely equipped to solve those challenges,” Obama said. “You believe that you can change your communities and change the world. And you know what, I think you’re right. Yes, you can.”