President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at Howard University during the school’s graduation ceremony May 7 in Washington, D.C.
Obama is the sixth sitting U.S. President to deliver the keynote address at a Howard University commencement. Howard will award more than 1,300 bachelor’s degrees, more than 300 master’s degrees and more than 100 Ph.Ds during this year’s graduation.
“The president’s commitment to education, especially for those who can least afford it, dovetails with Howard’s commitment to provide these same students with a rigorous, intellectually stimulating and academically challenging educational experience,” said Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick.
Howard is also awarding honorary degrees this year to Dr. L.D. Britt, M.D., MPH, Ambassador Horace Greeley Dawson Jr. and actress Cicely Tyson.
The president’s commencement address will mark his third at a graduation ceremony at an HBCU during his time in office. He previously spoke at Morehouse College in 2013 and Hampton University in 2010. Along with speaking at Howard, Obama will deliver the commencement addresses at Rutgers University and the Air Force Academy.
Howard isn’t the only HBCU getting a visit from the White House for graduation. First Lady Michelle Obama is delivering the commencement address at Jackson State University and Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at Delaware State University’s graduation.