Former First Lady Michelle Obama personally responded to the social media campaign launched by graduating seniors at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, who are seeking to have her speak at their 2026 commencement.
The campaign, which began during a student government association (SGA) meeting, quickly gained momentum.
The students made their request through numerous videos. The appeals for her to speak at their graduation were loud, featuring bleachers packed with enthusiastic students, sports teams, and even a choir singing “Obama.”
“This is day two of asking Michelle Obama to speak at our high school graduation! Let’s go!” a student shouts to cheers in one video.
The idea of inviting Obama as a speaker came up during a student government association meeting. According to SGA Vice President Noah, the students were inspired by Obama’s Netflix documentary, Becoming, and its emphasis on the importance of young people’s voices.
“I’d watched her documentary ‘Becoming’ on Netflix and, you know, we grew up with her—her being a great speaker, her really emphasizing youth voices, and I just thought she’d be an amazing speaker and we’d be honored to have her at BCC,” the group’s vice president told NBC4 Washington.
The students’ videos quickly captured the attention of the internet, leading to them garnering millions of views across various social media platforms within a matter of weeks. The sheer volume of views and the widespread media coverage generated significant buzz, transforming the local school campaign into a viral national story.
The support and attention eventually reached the ears of the former First Lady, Michelle Obama. Then, to the delight and shock of the students and the millions who followed their campaign, Obama directly acknowledged and commented on one of the students’ emotional and heartfelt videos.
“I’m so moved by your videos — it’s a credit to what you and so many others in your generation can get done through the power of organizing,” a message from her account said. “My team is in touch with your school and we’re working on something special. In the meantime, I want to hear more from you. What gives you hope?”
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“I think that what gives me hope is the fact that Mrs. Obama — she heard what we were saying and she reached out to us. And that really shows that if we care about something and we try hard and we persist at something, then our voices can have an impact, and we can make a difference,” the SGA vice president said.
The school community remains hopeful that Michelle Obama will deliver the highly anticipated graduation address.
Although her commitment to speak has not been confirmed, school leaders have verified that they are currently in active discussions with the former First Lady’s representatives.
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