15 years later: How Obama’s graduation visit changed Booker T. Washington High

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Among the graduates at the University of Memphis 2026 Spring Commencement was Dr. Alisha Coleman-Kiner, earning her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at an age where she could have retired from her role at Memphis-Shelby County Schools as Deputy Chief of Academics.

“I wanted to extend my learning. I needed to know more. I still do, but I needed to know more,” Coleman-Kiner said.

If Coleman-Kiner looks familiar, there’s a reason for that.

Fifteen years ago, she was principal of Booker T. Washington High School, getting ready for another graduation with a pretty important guest.

“I received a phone call yesterday from the White House,” Coleman-Kiner said in April 2011.

On May 16, 2011, President Barack Obama came to Booker T. Washington High School. The Commander-In-Chief made a stop in Memphis for a graduation day no one would ever forget.

“To be honest, it was an out-of-body experience,” Coleman-Kiner said.

An unlikely winner

In 2011, thousands of high schools from across the country competed in the Race to the Top White House commencement competition. From North Carolina to Washington State, schools submitted video essays showing off their achievements to hopefully earn an appearance from Obama at their graduation.

BTW was an unlikely candidate. Four years prior, only 55% of students graduated. The school sat in one of the poorest and most crime-ridden zip codes in the city. 95% of students came from economically disadvantaged households. About 20% came from public housing that was being torn down right before their eyes.

Ironically, former student Chris Dean said that served as motivation.

“But when they started knocking down Cleaborn home, something in us, like being spread out to live to be moved forcefully to another side of the city, it made us want to come back to BTW,” Dean said.

“Kids who used to be late walking up the street was on time taking a bus from across the town. That little detail, like I want to be here,” said Dean.

Dean was one of the standout stars of the school’s video essay, which highlighted the school’s increased test scores and a nearly 30% jump in their graduation rate from 55% to 82%.

A true underdog story worthy of presidential recognition.

“My kids were told no enough in life. Sometimes I used to say because there was so much heartache, sometimes I used to say, there should be a bye week like in football where they just have a season where they don’t have to deal with the stuff. They get to really just be kids,” Coleman-Kiner said.

The city rallied

The real magic of that presidential visit started before the President ever arrived.

The city rallied around the students with beautification projects around the campus and multiple television spotlights.

“We hope the President does as good of a job inspiring them as Team BTW did inspiring all of us,” said Action News 5 General Manager Lee Meredith in an April 2011 editorial.

The ripple effect

Fiftteen years later, in 2026, that South Memphis neighborhood still faces some of the same perils it faced 15 years ago. 85% of BTW students still come from economically disadvantaged homes-- just a 10% decline from 2011.

But the ripple effect of that presidential visit did produce some bright spots.

Dean’s relationship with the Obamas continued long after he introduced the President. He interned twice for the administration before graduating from Lane College.

Later, he played a pivotal role in the creation of Memphis Rox, a climbing gym in the heart of South Memphis.

“I wish their arms were still wrapped around South Memphis at that time is what sticks out to me, but you know, I still wrap my arms around South Memphis,” Dean said. “And I encourage the city to continue to love on the parts that you may not see as pretty or beautiful.”

As for the school, the graduation rate is still below average at nearly 80%, but it never fell to that dismal 55% again. In 2025, the state ranked the school 4 out of 5 in growth metrics, which may be a testament to what happened all those years ago.

“I just admire the students that went to BTW. Like listen, just the things that I saw them overcome. And when I see them now, there’s about 8 or 9 of them teaching at BTW now,” Coleman-Kiner said.

When asked which graduation she was most proud of — the one coming up or the one 15 years ago — Coleman-Kiner didn’t hesitate.

“The graduation that was 15 years ago. I am most proud of that. That was harder because I didn’t do that by myself. That was a real group team effort,” she said.

BTW celebrates its centennial this year.

The Obama Presidential Center will officially open to the public in June in Chicago. As for Dean, he’s now a filmmaker, co-creating the 2025 documentary “Memphis to the Mountain.” It tells the story of a group of young South Memphis climbers climbing Mt. Kenya. The documentary is available on Hulu.

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