By Adriana Ungerleider, ’12, Contributor

Clark Montessori, the nation’s first public Montessori high school, along with five other schools from around the nation, was nominated as a semi-finalist in the “Race to the Commencement Challenge,” a competition in which the winner earns a commencement speech at their graduation from President Barack Obama, but lost in the final round to Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

In the first round of the competition, students at schools around the nation completed applications to qualify their school for the challenge.  The six semi-finalists were selected based on the school’s academic success, four student essay submissions, and various information the school added to beef up its application. After the applications were submitted, the contest was then opened to the public, revealing Clark’s participation in the event. After allowing anyone to vote on the schools for a limited period of time, President Obama selected the winner, Kalamazoo Central High School. The results were announced Monday, May 4 on the White House’s homepage. Clark has cooperated with CCDS in many academic endeavors, including the annual college fair, sporting events, and college counseling, leading to CCDS students voting for Clark as a gesture of support.

The “Race to the Finish” program is part of an initiative by President Barack Obama to have the United States rise as the country with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.  Applications were submitted in the form of videos and short essays meant to highlight the school’s academic achievements, as well as their success in preparing students for college. The six semifinalists received help from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in creating a final video to be posted on the White House website. Upon discovering that their school had advanced to the semi-finals, Clark students spent over twenty hours directing and producing a video explaining why their school should be chosen to host President Obama at this year’s graduation ceremony.   The video featured the school’s well-known steel drum band, in addition to student appearances.

Clark highlighted the different opportunities the school offers such as 2-week immersion courses around the world. In the past eight years, 96% of Clark students have graduated and gone on to attend college. While Clark definitely stands out from the crowd, it is unfortunate that it advanced so far in the competition and did not receive the opportunity to have President Obama visit. In an open letter to the city of Cincinnati, Clark Montessori said, “We truly appreciate having had the opportunity to share with the country a model of education that works. It is thrilling to know that there were over 1,000 schools that undoubtedly feel as passionate about their programs as we do about ours.”

As a consolation prize, Clark had Education Secretary Arne Duncan speak at its May 27 commencement at Crossroads Church.

Photo courtesy of http://www.channels.com/episodes/show/3943995/Diamondback-Insight-1-Review