Obama's college tour

Barack Obama starts his first college commencement tour as president tonight, speaking to graduates of Arizona State University.

His graduation speech Sunday at Notre Dame is more controversial because of protestors angry about a Catholic university honoring someone whose views on abortion and stem cell research run counter to church teachings.

His appearance May 22 at the US Naval Academy is more traditional because the commander in chief is expected to speak at one of the service academies.

But his visit tonight at Arizona State might be more telling about his goals for education.

The president talks all the time about expanding access to higher education -- and, as the Associated Press notes, ASU is on the front lines of that push. Besides its sprawling campus in Tempe, it has opened a satellite campus in downtown Phoenix and expanded one in suburban Mesa. Its enrollment has jumped by one-third in the past eight years to 67,000 students, among the highest in the country.

UPDATE: The White House announced this evening that while ASU is not giving Obama an honorary degree, after his speech the university will announce it is expanding a financial aid program and renaming it the President Barack Obama Scholars Program.

Six scholarship recipients will be present at the commencement ceremony. (Information on the program and the recipients is below.)

Later in the ceremony, Obama will also commission 40 Army and Air Force cadets from five Arizona universities, the White House said.

In the speech, scheduled to start at 10:50 p.m. EDT at Sun Devil Stadium, Obama will likely reprise his call for young people to consider public and community service instead of just seeking high-paid jobs on Wall Street -- especially since he has signed a bill expanding volunteer opportunities and since the state of the economy means fewer of those six-figure-salary opportunities right out of college.

Obama brought that message last May to Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he stepped in for an ailing Senator Edward M. Kennedy. He urged students to consider public service, recalling his own decision to work for a small group of churches as a neighborhood organizer in Chicago for "$12,000 a year plus $2,000 for an old, beat-up car," and how the experience gave him purpose and direction -- a path that led him to the White House and history.

Background on the President Barack Obama Scholars Program:
In response to President Barack Obama’s challenge for the United States to once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020, Arizona State University is increasing its student accessibility by expanding its financial aid program to more Arizona families.

As a commitment to the national challenge to enhance college accessibility, ASU is expanding its most important financial aid program and renaming it the President Barack Obama Scholars Program. The program will provide funding for direct costs to all academically qualified Arizona freshmen from families that earn less than $60,000. Covered costs -- minus expected family contribution -- include tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Obama Scholars also will have a work-study campus job requirement as part of the total aid package.

The Obama Scholars Program more than doubles qualifying family income from $25,000 to $60,000 and more than triples the number of scholars from 500 freshmen this year to more than 1,600 freshmen entering ASU in fall 2009.

The Obama Scholars Program will allow students to participate in aspects of the undergraduate experience critical to their success such as living in residence halls on campus, which increases their likelihood of finishing college. They also will have the opportunity to participate in a mentoring program.

Background on 6 ASU Obama Scholars recipients present at commencement:
Annalili Chacon: A native of Guadalupe, Annalili Chacón is the youngest of four children and comes from a family dedicated to education. A senior at Tempe’s Marcos de Niza High School with a 3.9 GPA, she dreams of graduating from the WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. As an inaugural recipient of the President Barack Obama Scholarship, Annalili is one step closer to realizing that dream. Annalili’s family has instilled in her a strong sense of community and giving back. In addition to her business career, she will make it a priority to give back to her community by serving as a role model for the younger generations of Guadalupanos who aspire to achieve a higher education. During high school she has volunteered organizing activities for children at the East Valley Boys and Girls Club in Guadalupe and the Escalante Center in Tempe. One of her most memorable volunteer experiences was working at the Democratic Party Office in Tempe during the 2008 presidential election. Although she was not old enough to vote at that time, Annalili was energized by the campaign and excited to be part of an historic election. She has since turned 18, registered to vote, and is excited about participating in the next election. In the meantime, Annalili will begin her pursuit of higher education at ASU in the fall. On selecting a university she says, “It is very important to me that ASU prides itself in its policies to promote equal opportunities for all genders, races, and ethnicities.”

George Khalaf: George Khalaf was born in Lebanon and came to the United States when his parents fled the civil war in their country in 1996; George was five years old. Although he was a young boy and doesn’t have many memories of that time, he is very proud of his heritage. In his native country educational goals are difficult to achieve so he appreciates the opportunities he has as a US citizen. His appreciation for education has prompted him to work hard in school and it has paid off; He will graduate this spring from Dobson High School with a 3.79 GPA. In addition to being a scholar, George is also a leader. He was a member of Valley Teen Leadership Class XI and continues to volunteer and train young leaders through the organization. In the fall he will continue his educational journey and begin studying political science and finance at Arizona State University. While George has always known that college was in his future, he wasn’t sure how he would pay for it. As a President Barack Obama Scholar, financing his education is no longer a concern. He says, “I am grateful to be a part of the President Barack Obama Scholars Program as I will have the opportunity to further my knowledge and education at ASU without having to be worried about finances.”

Lysandra Frey: Lysandra was a typical sophomore in high school; she studied hard and participated in extracurricular activities. Then one day her father passed away unexpectedly. Shortly thereafter her grades began to slip and she had trouble sleeping. Fortunately her teachers noticed and supported her by talking with her and encouraging her to focus on her academics. It worked. This spring she will graduate from Mesa’s Skyline High School with a 3.39 GPA. The next chapter in her life will take her to Arizona State University where she will study biological sciences as a President Barack Obama Scholar. She hopes to one day work in the field of forensics solving crimes. In planning for college Lysandra knew that finances would be an issue as her mom was now the only source of income for Lysandra and her younger sister. She worked diligently applying for financial aid and scholarships. Upon hearing about being a President Barack Obama Scholar she said, “Knowing that I won’t have to worry about paying for school or housing on campus is a great relief. It is an incredible honor to be a part of this program.”

Raynetta Brown: Despite the odds against her, Raynetta Brown has always been determined to succeed. She lives with her single mother and is the third of four children. She will be the first of her siblings to graduate from high school and also hopes to be the first one to graduate from college. If her high school record is any indication of success, Raynetta will definitely accomplish her educational goals. A senior at South Mountain High School, she will graduate as valedictorian with a 3.96 GPA. In addition to her academics, she has excelled in sports as a member of the softball team and cheer squad. Raynetta will enter Arizona State University in the fall as a psychology major and participate in the inaugural class of President Barack Obama Scholars. She says, “I know I have to stay focused on my goals. I want to go to college and won’t let anything get in my way. I look forward to attending ASU and am honored to be a part of the Obama Scholars Program.”

Yobani Mejia-Lopez: Yobani Mejia-Lopez is a resilient young man who has overcome many obstacles. An orphan at the age of 8, his grandparents have raised him in a household of eleven. He currently works part-time to assist his family with household expenses. A senior at Mesa’s Westwood High School, Yobani was actively involved in sports until a heart illness prevented him from playing last year. After undergoing emergency heart surgery, he returned to school after a two month absence. Although he was no longer able to participate in sports, Yobani focused his energy on academics and will now graduate with a 3.25 GPA. The next phase of his life will take him to Arizona State University where he will major in biochemistry with an ultimate goal of becoming a dentist. Yobani was influenced by his first dental visit in the United States at the age of 9 and since then has continued to have conversations with his dentist about this career choice. He says, “I want to do something with my life that I will enjoy.”

Byron Smithson: Byron Smithson has had to grow up rather quickly. At the age of 14, both of his parents passed away within three weeks of each other. He now lives with his four siblings and his two older brothers are raising the younger ones. As the middle child he has had to take on additional familial responsibilities. In addition to these responsibilities, Byron has made it a priority to do well and be active in school. A member of his school’s lacrosse and DECA teams, he will graduate from Chandler High School with a 3.0 GPA and begin his studies at Arizona State University in the fall. He chose ASU because of the strong business programs in the WP Carey School of Business and hopes to major in marketing and entrepreneurship with a goal of starting his own business with his brother. Unlike his older brother, Byron did not have the assistance of his mother when it came to applying to college and scholarships. Fortunately he had counselors and ASU staff members to assist him with every step of the way. Having the President Barack Obama Scholarship means that he will have the opportunity to attend college without worrying about how he will pay for it. Byron says, “If it weren’t for the Obama Scholarship, I would not be going to ASU.”