Hampton, VA – Hampton University is pleased to announce that President Barack Obama will serve as the University’s 140th commencement speaker on Sunday May 9, 2010. The historic occasion will be streamed live from the university’s website.

“We are honored that President Obama has accepted Hampton’s invitation to speak to our 2010 graduates during our commencement exercises,” said HU President William R. Harvey. “His commitment to leadership, education and service is parallel to Hampton’s mission from our beginning in 1868. He is an inspiration for our students to make the world a better place by becoming the very best leaders, educators, doctors, lawyers, financial analysts and scientists that they can be.”

Hampton University is a historically black college founded in 1868 and is a leader in higher education, and has been ranked among the top (No. 24) Southern universities in the regional university category of the 2009 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings. Hampton University was named by The Princeton Review as one of the “2009 Best 368 Colleges” in the nation.

Congratulations graduates!