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About the author
Terry Boyd
Terry Boyd has seven years experience as a business/finance journalist, and eight years a military reporter with European Stars and Stripes. As a banking and finance reporter at Business First, Boyd dealt directly with the most influential executives and financiers in Louisville. Click here to read other articles by Terry Boyd.
DuPont Manual creates ‘President Project’ social media campaign in bid to bring Pres. Obama for 2012 commencement
Because this might be exactly the kind of campaign opportunity the White House is looking for about now, with the 2012 presidential election on the horizon.
Staff and students at duPont Manual High School will unveil today their “President Project,” a very serious campaign to bring President Barack Obama to Louisville next year. The goal is to get the POTUS himself to deliver the commencement speech for the Class of 2012, and it appears the White House is down with the madness!
And why not? Picture the president surrounded by some of the smartest and most ambitious young people in America at one of the nation’s great high schools … photogenic kids from every ethnic background.
For “The President Project,” school officials have recruited University of Louisville Pres. Jim Ramsey and the president’s political ally, U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth.
Students (how old do they have to be to vote, Gov. Perry?) at duPont Manual High School see a social media campaign as most affective.
They’ve created a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a video for Youtube featuring the mellifluous voice of none other than one William Bradford II, the esteemed Youth Performing Arts/Trinity High School drama teacher and movie star (“The Insider”).
From the email going out to duPont Manual families:
”The President Project” – duPont Manual is inviting President Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address for the Class of 2012. This campaign, a student-led effort called “The President Project,” is focusing on the importance of collaboration in educational reform, a philosophy espoused by both Manual and President Obama. The campaign already has support from a number of local politicians, including Rep. John Yarmuth, Mayor Greg Fischer, Superintendent Donna Hargens, and Kentucky Commissioner of Education, Terry Holliday. Also, the Kentucky House of Representatives is issuing a citation which is an official documentation of their support!
What’s more, the White House has already contacted us and expressed interest. However, while the support of these influential people is of great importance, it is the enthusiasm and the dedication of the Manual student body that will be the deciding factor. And that’s where you can help. Social media is central to our campaign, so it is imperative that we have a big social media presence. You can like our Facebook page, The President Project, tweet about us, @thePresProject, and visit our website http://thepresidentproject.com/ We need as many Manual students as possible to spread awareness through Facebook and Twitter and just by talking to people about it! If you have any questions, please email press(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)thepresidentproject.com or speak to seniors Michael Perry or Parker Bowling.
Of course, the dilemma for the West Wing staff is, do you pass on the perfect campaign event because it sets the precedent of the president doing high school commencements instead of – you know – running the country?
The pitch includes this letter to the president from Ramsey: