Gallery: Michelle Obama at UCLA celebrating students striving for higher education
By Kristie-Valerie Hoang
May 1, 2019 5:40 p.m.
Students posed with chalkboards that read the school they would attend next fall.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
Volunteers stationed around the concessions perimeter passed out flags and pins to students before the event.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
Students waited in Pauley Pavilion for roughly two hours before the event started. Many entertained themselves by dancing to music that played from the speakers.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
Kyodo Taiko, a student-run Japanese drumming ensemble, was one of many groups that performed before the event.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
Stephanie Malfavan, a senior at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School, will attend University of Denver next fall.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
UCLA cheer performed alongside the band to kick off College Signing Day.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
The UCLA band rehearses its positions before its event performance.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
Chancellor Gene Block and University of California President Janet Napolitano gave opening remarks. Napolitano especially emphasized UC-wide financial aid packages available to students with demonstrated need.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
Singer John Legend was among 30 celebrities that joined Michelle Obama for College Signing Day. Legend encouraged students to push through personal struggles to achieve a college education, as he did when he attended the University of Pennsylvania.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
''Jane the Virgin'' actor Justin Baldoni launched College Signing Day T-shirts to the crowd.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
''When you run into those challenges – you will because you will – I don't want you to be afraid of the challenge. We all run into that challenge,'' said former first lady Michelle Obama as the final speaker at the event. Audience members cheered and whooped in response to the former first lady.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
This is the sixth annual College Signing Day hosted by Obama. She said she was proud of the students' work and was optimistic for their future that lies ahead. ''You told those doubters they better make room,'' Obama said.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
Genesis Jackson was recognized for her commitment to higher education. Jackson will attend UCLA next year as a regents scholar to pursue a degree in dance.
(Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin)
