ASU Obama Scholarship Out-Shines Honorary Degree
Media Missed the Real Story of ASU Answering Obama's Call for Change
May 14, 2009
ABC-TV News, USA Today newspaper columns, and even a Comedy Central’s: The Daily Show episode on May 13, 2009, called attention to President Obama’s agreement to speak at ASU and the honorary degree the university chose not to offer him.
Terms such as “denial” and “refusal to honor President Obama” have been tossed around since The University of Notre Dame announced on March 20, 2009, they were giving an honorary degree to Obama for speaking at their commencement this spring, as they have done for other US Presidents.
Bringing Students Closer to “Change We Can Believe In”
US President Barack Obama is still quoted for his campaign slogan “change we can believe in.” It is also no statistical secret that Arizona is at the bottom of the heap in educating its youth. The state has three public universities, each burdened with unfathomable financial woes, and high freshman dropout rates. With ASU tuition hikes, from the Arizona Board of Regents reports, averaging nearly 10% per year, college is less accessible than ever before.
In honor of Obama, as the first standing US President to speak at Arizona State University's commencement, ASU made a step forward in “change we can believe in” starting with the 2009-2010 academic year. ASU President, Michael Crow, announced the President Barack Obama Scholars Program.
President Barack Obama Scholars Program
Under its former program, called the ASU Advantage Program, it only reached students of households with a $25,000 or lower income. Renamed and completely reworked into The President Barack Obama Scholars Program, the scholarship now reaches students of households with an income of up to $60,000.
As many as 1,000 low-income students will have education opportunity at ASU in '09-10, compared to less than half that in '08-'09. For years to come, many more people will have opportunity to earn a degree because US President Obama said, “Yes,” to speaking at the ASU May 14, 2009 commencement. Obviously, the income perimeters were outdated, and change was needed.
"Much Ado Over Nothing"
Obama, himself has earned two degrees, is an former educator, the ASU campus students and staff supported Obama’s campaign far beyond any other candidate, and have continued their loyalties since his election. His own website Organizing for America, notes that expanding access to higher education is not just something Obama is asking America "to believe...not just in my ability to bring about change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours."
Obama is passionate and commited to education. Does he really need or value an honorary degree over a scholarship in his name? An honorary degreee is granted for a variety of reasons, earned or otherwise, for the sole benefit of the recipient. The President Barack Obama Scholars Program brings opportunity to 1,000's of deserving people of financial need who would be unable to earn a degree otherwise. In his own words at ASU's commencement ceremony on May 14, 2009, President Obama said the media hype was "much ado over nothing."
Obama and ASU Make History Together
Over seventy thousand attended the class of 2009 ASU Commencement with US President Obama as the keynote speaker. Graduates will always remember the historic day. A few will even recall the day in the fall of 2007 when some folks gathered on the campus Hayden Lawn, around the only 2007-08 US Presidential candidate to pause at ASU, speaking of “change we can believe in.”
Barack Obama is the only 2008 presidential candidate to campaign at ASU campus, and he is the only standing president to speak at an ASU commencement ceremony. He will now influence ASU student achievement through the President Barack Obama Scholars Program.
For further reading on the Phoenix, Arizona area from writer Lynn Pritchett, see her articles: Phoenix Area Spring Attractions on a Budget and Dining Guide for the Fiesta Bowl.
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