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Kansas Speech, College Affordability, and the Army-Navy Football Game: Deputies' Download

December 12, 2011 at 3:06 PM ET by Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia

Summary:

President Obama delivers a major speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, Vice President Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan discuss college affordability in Florida, and the President and Vice President attend the Army-Navy football game.

On Saturday, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden attended the 112th edition of the annual Army vs. Navy football game at FedEx Field, which ended in the 10th straight victory for Navy, with a final score of 27-21. On Wednesday, December 14th, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where they will deliver remarks to troops. As we definitively end America’s war in Iraq this month, the President will speak about the enormous sacrifices and achievements of the brave Americans who served in the Iraq War and will recognize the extraordinary milestone of bringing the war in Iraq to an end.

Last Tuesday, more than 100 years after Teddy Roosevelt gave his historic New Nationalism speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, President Obama traveled to this same small town to address the make-or-break moment facing the American middle class. Some in Washington argue that we should let the markets take care of everything -- rolling back regulation and slashing taxes. But, as President Obama said, we can choose a different path: “There’s another view about how we build a strong middle class in this country. It is a view that says in America we are greater together -- when everyone engages in fair play and everybody gets a fair shot and everybody does their fair share.” But the clock is ticking, and the President will continue to urge Congress to act quickly to extend the payroll tax cut.

Also last week, Vice President Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, Florida, to talk to students and their parents about college. President Obama and Vice President Biden have focused on making college affordable for middle-class families since the day they took office, by increasing the value of the maximum Pell Grant award and creating the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

President Barack Obama performs the coin toss before the annual Army vs. Navy football game at FedEx Field, Landover, Md. December 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hold town hall on college affordability at Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, Florida, December 8, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Blog Highlights

Champions of Change

On Friday, December 9th, twelve local leaders in the effort to recruit and retain girls and women in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields were honored as White House Champions of Change. These men and women, who include teachers, students, and industry and non-profit leaders, have each taken great strides to reduce the barriers that drive many girls and women away from high-paying, highly rewarding careers as the nation’s top innovators.

Get Involved

Please join us on Wednesday, December 14th at 4:00 p.m. EST for a conference call with Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, to discuss the enormous sacrifices and achievements of the brave Americans who served in the Iraq War, and the milestone of bringing the war in Iraq to a close. This call is off the record and not for press purposes. If you are able to join, please RSVP to: international@who.eop.gov.

Dial In: (800) 398-9397
Passcode Title: End of Iraq War

On Thursday, December 15th at 1:00 p.m. EST, please join us for a conference call with Mark Zuckerman, Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, to discuss this week's We Can't Wait executive actions. This call is off the record and not for press purposes. Please RSVP here.

Dial In: (800) 762-4758
Passcode Title: White House Update Call

The application for the Summer 2012 White House Internship Program is now open, and the application deadline is January 22, 2012. The mission of the White House Internship Program is to make the "People’s House" accessible to future leaders from around the nation and to cultivate and prepare those devoted to public service for future leadership opportunities. The programs and opportunities of the White House Internship Program make for days filled with unique learning experiences, thought-provoking conversation, and unforgettable events. Visit obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/internships to learn more about the White House Internship Program and to apply.

The White House Fellows program is the nation’s most prestigious program for leadership and public service. Founded by President Johnson in 1964 to engage emerging leaders in public service, the Fellows Program provides exceptional young men and women with first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. Fellows spend one year in Washington, DC working in the offices of Cabinet Secretaries, White House staff, and other high level Executive Branch officials. The Fellows Program is non-partisan, highly competitive and seeks people who have distinguished themselves through their work and dedication to public service. To learn more, we invite you to view the White House Fellows video chat in which the Program Director Cindy Moelis and former Fellows Anish Mahajan and Erica Jeffries answer questions about the application and the Fellowship experience. Applications for the White House Fellowship can currently be found online at obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/fellows. The deadline for completed applications is January 13, 2012.

For more information about ways to get involved now, check out the Office of Public Engagement’s blog, which is updated daily with upcoming engagement opportunities. Take some time to browse our Engage webpage, or email Public@who.eop.gov for more information. Also check out Serve.gov for opportunities to personalize your long-term service.

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are the Deputy Directors of the Office of Public Engagement.