World

Obama addresses West Point graduation ceremony

(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-23 09:56

Obama addresses West Point graduation ceremony

Graduates swear in after US President Barack Obama gives the 2010 commencement address at Mitchie Stadium of the US Military Academy in West Point, New York State, May 22, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - A grand graduation ceremony was held Saturday at the United States Military Academy, or West Point Academy, with US President Barack Obama as the speaker.

There were 1,002 cadets receiving their diplomas at the ceremony. Those graduating on the day represented approximately 76 percent of the cadets who entered West Point most four years ago.

While extending congratulations to the graduating cadets, Obama said West Point Academy is the "best college" in America.

The president also mentioned the failed terror attack in New York Times Square, warning the terror threat for America "will not go away soon."

Speaking of the importance of innovation, Obama said it must become the foundation for building American power.

Among this year's graduates in the Class of 2010 at West Point Academy are 14 foreign cadets. The class also included 135 women, 54 African Americans, 70 Asian/Pacific Islanders, 68 Hispanics and six Native Americans.

The 14 foreign cadets, who represent Belize, Cameroon, Guyana, Iraq, Latvia, Maldives, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Rwanda and Thailand, will return to those nations for service.

Almost all of the graduate will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the US Army. However, one cadet will be commissioned in the US Air Force, one in the US Navy and three in the US Marine Corps.

This is West Point's 212th graduating class and the 31st class graduating with women.

Cadets attend the 2010 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony of the US Military Academy in West Point, New York State, May 22, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

Renowned as the world's premier leader development institution, West Point accomplishes its mission by developing cadets intellectually, physically, militarily, ethically, spiritually, and socially. The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers 4,400 and each year approximately 1,000 cadets join the Long Gray Line as they graduate and are commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army.

Recent acknowledgments of the success include Forbes.com pronouncing West Point as the Best Public College or University in America for undergraduate education, US News and World Report calling the Academy the Best Public Liberal Arts College in the country, and the Princeton Review designating it as one of the 100 Best Value Colleges for 2009.

Lieutenant General Franklin L. Hagenbeck, Superintendent of the West Point Academy, presided over the ceremony.

Obama presented diplomas to the honored students and shook hands with them and many others.

Parents and other relatives of graduating cadets, school faculty members and citizens from different places and sectors packed the Michie Stadium, the venue of the ceremony.