Remarks by the President at White House Student Film Festival

East Room

4:11 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello.  My name is Shelly Ortiz -- oh, wrong page.  (Laughter.)  I was just teasing.  I knew I wasn’t Shelly Ortiz.  (Laughter.)  Everybody give Shelly a big round of applause for the great work.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thanks for not only the introduction, but for the beautiful video that you made about your dad.  Us dads, we get pretty touched by stuff like that. 

And I am thrilled that all of you are with us for our first-ever White House Student Film Festival.  And I know we're running a little bit late.  It's not because the projector was not working.  It was because of me.  But I appreciate all of you guys being here and your patience. 

The Academy Awards are not until Sunday, but, as you can see, we’ve brought the Oscars to the White House a little bit early.  And I want to thank our partners:  Fox, National Geographic, and the American Film Institute.  We’ve got the red carpet, we've got the big screens, the opening monologue.  The only difference is nobody asks what you’re wearing.  (Laughter.) 

And we've got Bill Nye, the Science Guy -- (applause) -- and Neil deGrasse Tyson from the Hayden Planetarium -- (applause) -- who might even give you a sneak peak of his new show, COSMOS, if everybody behaves themselves.  (Applause.)  I saw the original version -- I'm a little older than all of you -- and it was spectacular and wonderful, and I know this is going to be not just as good but even better.  And so we're thrilled with that.  And we’re putting on a big show here because we’re honoring some remarkable filmmakers.   

I've said before, I believe, and I hope all of us believe, that every child in America deserves a world-class education -- especially in science and technology and engineering and math -- because it’s skills like these that made us an economic superpower and built our middle class.  We also need folks who are studying the arts because our film industry is a huge generator of jobs and economic power here in the United States, and it tells us our story and helps us to find what’s -- our common humanity.  

And it’s skills like these that allowed NASA to announce the other day that we’ve discovered more than 700 new planets.  (Applause.)  That's cool.  I mean, we didn’t make the planets, but we -- (laughter) -- we found out that they were there.  And one of the ways that we deliver the best education in the world is by empowering our students with the best technology in the world. 

To help inspire us, we invited students from across the country to send their videos about how their schools use technology today, how they might use it in the future.  So kids got their cameras out and went to work.  And we received about 2,500 videos -- 2,500.  And we watched them all.  I did not personally watch them all, but the White House watched them all.

And today, the Oscar goes to -- all of you.  Because among all the incredible videos we received, yours stood out.   And in my official capacity as President, let me just say these movies are awesome.   Like all great movies, yours do something special -- they tell a story.  They help us understand, in this case, the amazing things that are going on in classrooms and how technology is empowering our students and broadening their imaginations and challenging them to dream bigger and reach further.  

Now, here is the spoiler alert:  There is some wonderful stuff going on out there.  So even before you have seen some of these films, you need to know that what these filmmakers have displayed is the incredible innovation and creativity of this generation coming up.

You’ve got Gabrielle Nafie and Miles Pilchik from SciTech Kids in New York.  (Applause.)  They showed us that their class isn’t just dreaming about going into space, they're actually going into space.  They designed density experiments and used a 3-D printer to build tiny satellites to hold them.  And then they actually launched a giant balloon that carried their satellites up to the edge of space -- very cool --

MS. NAFIE:  Thank you.  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  -- so they could collect the data.  When I was in elementary school, I was not launching satellites into space.

You’ve got Alex Emerson, who showed how his 8th grade class at Brookwood School in Massachusetts changed the definition of “pen-pals” by video-chatting with students in Uganda.  And one of the things they did was collaborate on cook stoves that help families in rural areas cook safer and with cleaner energy. 

And it doesn’t stop with what’s possible today.  These videos show how students are imagining the future -- classrooms that are fully accessible to classmates with disabilities; individualized learning platforms that you can carry around in your pocket.  And that’s the kind of creativity and imagination we want all our young people to embrace. 

We cannot wait to see more of that innovative spirit later this year when we host our first ever White House Maker Faire.  (Applause.)  We already have a White House Science Fair.  This new event is going to highlight how Americans young and old -— tinkerers and inventors —- are imagining and designing and building tools and machines that will open our minds and power our economy.

We want to bring this spirit -- including more technology --into the classroom.  And that’s why I launched something we’re calling ConnectED -- our initiative to close the technology gap in our schools and connect 99 percent of America’s students to high-speed broadband Internet within five years.  Because when the average American school has about the same Internet bandwidth as the average American home but serves 200 times as many people, that means our students are at a disadvantage.  And when less than 30 percent of our students have access to true high-speed Internet in their classroom, while in South Korea students have 100 percent, that's like waving the white flag when it comes to our global competition.  But here’s what I think:  In a country where we expect free Wi-Fi at our coffee shops, then we should demand it in our schools and in our libraries.  (Applause.)  

This is not thing we can do alone.  And as a consequence, I picked up the phone and started asking business leaders to help bring our schools and libraries into the 21st century.  They did not just answer the call, they came up huge.  So, earlier this month, some of our biggest technology companies committed to more than $750 million in computers and software and broadband access to put our kids and classrooms on the cutting edge of technology.

Today, I’m proud to announce that more companies are getting on board.  Prezi will provide over $100 million in presentation products to help students develop ready-to-work skills in slideshows and creative communication.  So give them a big round of applause.  We’re very proud of them for that.  (Applause.)

And Adobe will make available, for free, more than $300 million in creative and teaching software so that kids can turn their ideas into films and graphics, and teachers can deliver lessons electronically.  So give Adobe a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

If you’re quick at math, which I know you are, then you’ll see that this means we’ve delivered over $1 billion in technology commitments to our schools, which isn’t too shabby for one month. But there’s still more to do, and we need even more companies to get on board.  Because, thanks to innovative schools and teachers and students like all of you, we know what school might look like in the century ahead:  Classrooms wired to space; students who are fluent in coding and web design; teachers collaborating on projects with peers around the world.  We’ve always imagined giving every child the chance to learn like that.  And with these private sector partners, we’re helping to make it a reality.  

So let me leave you with a wonderful example of the difference that technology can make.  Kyle Weintraub is a 7th grader at David Posnak Jewish Day School in Florida.  And last year, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, had to move to Pennsylvania for treatment.  In the past, that meant Kyle would have had to leave his school and his friends behind.  But every day, Kyle puts on his school uniform and, without even leaving his room in Pennsylvania, he goes to school in Florida because he has a special robot with a high-tech video feed that goes to class for him.  And even as he’s getting medical treatment and fights to get better, Kyle can keep up with his studies -- controlling his robot from his computer at home.  And through a video feed, Kyle can see his classmates; they can see him.  So the robot doesn’t just have a name -- they just say, “Hey, Kyle.” 

And he can look around the classroom, move down the hallways, even sit with his friends at lunch.  And I know the teachers think this is just extraordinary as well, because if there’s one thing you don’t want to do, is start a food fight with a robot.  (Laughter.)  So everybody kind of seems to be better behaved when Kyle’s robot is around.  Kyle is here today. He did not bring his robot, but everybody give Kyle a big round of applause.  (Applause.)   

Kyle’s story is just one example of what’s possible when we put our extraordinary technologies to work for our students and our schools.  And that’s what this film festival is about.  So to all the young filmmakers out there, remember you’re much better at this than all that adults.  (Laughter.)  It’s your imagination and your creativity and your innovation and your dreams that are going to help this country move forward. 

Keep up the great work.  We could not be prouder of you.  Your parents are proud of you, I know that, but I am, too.  And America is counting on you.

So with that, let’s start the show.  Thank you, guys.  (Applause.)

END
4:23 P.M. EST

Message -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Zimbabwe

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.

1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13288 of March 6, 2003, with respect to the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions is to continue in effect beyond March 6, 2014.

The threat constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions has not been resolved. These actions and policies continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue this national emergency and to maintain in force the sanctions to respond to this threat.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Proclamation -- Irish-American Heritage Month, 2014

IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2014

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Centuries after America welcomed the first sons and daughters of the Emerald Isle to our shores, Irish heritage continues to enrich our Nation. This month, we reflect on proud traditions handed down through the generations, and we celebrate the many threads of green woven into the red, white, and blue.

Irish Americans have defended our country through times of war, strengthened communities from coast to coast, and poured sweat and blood into building our infrastructure and raising our skyscrapers. Some endured hunger, hardship, and prejudice; many rose to be leaders of government, industry, or culture. Their journey is a testament to the resilience of the Irish character, a people who never stopped dreaming of a brighter future and never stopped striving to make that dream a reality. Today, Americans of all backgrounds can find common ground in the values of faith and perseverance, and we can all draw strength from the unshakable belief that through hard work and sacrifice, we can forge better lives for ourselves and our families.

The American and Irish peoples enjoy a friendship deepened by both shared heritage and shared ideals. On the international stage, we are proud to work in concert toward a freer, more just world. As we honor that enduring connection during Irish-American Heritage Month, let us look forward to many more generations of partnership. May the bond between our peoples only grow in the centuries to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2014 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

BARACK OBAMA

President Obama to Host First-Ever White House Film Festival

Announces $400 million in new private sector commitments toward ConnectED goal

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama will host the first ever White House Student Film Festival, an event that will showcase the power of technology to boost learning and the Administration’s commitment to bringing America’s classrooms into the 21^st century with high-speed internet and cutting-edge educational technology.

In the East Room of the White House, President Obama will discuss ongoing progress towards his ConnectED goal of transforming American education by connecting 99% of students to next-generation broadband and wireless technology within five years. In keeping with his pledge to make 2014 a year of action using the power of his pen and his phone, the President will announce $400 million in new private sector commitments from Adobe and Prezi to make free software available to teachers and students to help introduce creative learning materials to classrooms all across the country and help realize the promise of e-learning.

The commitments the President will announce include:

• Adobe – Making available over $300 million worth of free software to teachers and students, including Photoshop and Premiere Elements for creative projects; Presenter and Captivate to amplify e-Learning; EchoSign for school workflow; and a range of teacher training resources. 
• Prezi – Prezi, a software tool for creating memorable presentations, is providing $100 million in Edu Pro licenses for high schools and all educators across America. 

These build on the $750 million commitments the President announced earlier this month — by using the power of his phone, the President inspired private-sector leaders to pledge well over $1 billion in value to America’s students through these private-sector commitments in the last month alone.

Last November, the White House announced the first-ever White House Student Film Festival, a video competition created for K-12 students to create short films on how technology is used in their classroom and the role technology will play in education in the future, and to support learning in key fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math. More than 2,000 videos were submitted.

Following the President’s remarks today, the White House – in collaboration with the American Film Institute (AFI) – will screen the 16 “Official Selections.” The selected videos will be screened in four groups: (1) Young Visionaries; (2) Future Innovators; (3) World of Tomorrow; (4) Building Bridges. The films will be presented by Kal Penn, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale. Conan O’Brien will also address the students by video. Details on the selected student videos can be found below.

In addition to the celebration of the student films and the President’s remarks, FOX and National Geographic Channel will treat the attendees to a sneak peek of the first episode of the upcoming COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY television series that celebrates the scientific perspective and the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math education.

The students who submitted the Official Selections will be joined in the audience by students who submitted honorable mention videos, parents, teachers, business leaders, and education advocates.

Details on the Official Selections for the first-ever White House Student Film Festival

Young Visionaries

Technology, Documentary, My Dad, and Me. Seventeen-year-old Shelly Ortiz became interested in filmmaking once she began attending the Metropolitan Arts Institute in Arizona in eighth grade. In "Technology, Documentary, My Dad, and Me," Shelly tells us about how the technology in her school has allowed her to find her passion and ability as a filmmaker and use that ability to tell the story of the people she cares about. 

Teleportation Investigation of 2014. Delaware, Ohio High school students Lexus Lexus Wolf, Natalie Koeritzer, Caroline Proffit, and Elizabeth Russell make up the group The Extrazzlers. In their video "Teleportation Investigation of 2014,” The Extrazzlers created an original music video about the technology in 2014 and what it might look like in the future. 

Through the Lens of a Tiger. Seniors Alicia Oluhara and Jason Perry attend Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. In their submission to the White House Student Film Festival, they detail the many ways technology has enabled them to learn about broadcasting and journalism to tell stories and chase their dreams. 

Stay Curious: Technology in the Classroom. Seventeen-year-old Kayla Briët from Cypress, California has a passion for film, music, and the arts. Her submission focused on how technology can foster both academics and creativity. Kayla is also an accomplished musician who produced and recorded the original music featured in her film "Stay Curious: Technology in the Classroom."

Discovery. Irvington High School sophomore Tiffany Lin from Fremont, California learned about the White House Student Film Festival by following the White House on Instagram. Her film, “Discovery,” shows how technology is used in the everyday life of a student through the advents of an action figure and an omniscient person who guides it.

Beyond the Crossfire. High school students Gabriel Garcia, Tirsa Mercado, and Rachel Walden from High Tech High in Chula Vista, California submitted a short film about a larger documentary being produced by more than 45 fellow students designed to elevate youth voices in the discussion about how to prevent and reduce violence and make our schools, homes, and neighborhoods safer. 

Future Innovators

Art Tech Collaboration. Elementary school students Emily Villazon, Sarah Matus, Jessica Barney, Reyah Doshi, and Garrett Dahn at Highlands and Mill Street Elementary Schools in Naperville, Illinois came together to create this dramatization of the interaction between two schools without ever meeting face to face. Student volunteers helped animate paper cutouts, created props, edited the film, and composed a soundtrack. This was a collaborative effort that required students to work together to create a cohesive story. 

PIP. High school students Richard White, Nicolas Ramey, and Emil Willmann from Louisiana teamed up to tell the story of a young boy who uses technology to make a presentation on what he wants to be when he grows up. 

Technology and Me. First graders Emily Kretschmer, Eleanor Daken, Malaika Wande, Yoan Pinsonneault, Veronica Techane, Makaia Spittel, Bezawit Gessesse, and Sydney Humpert from Silver Spring, Maryland gave us a pure and simple look at how the youngest of our students see the past, present, and future of classroom technology. 

World of Tomorrow

Technology in Education: A Future Classroom. High school junior Daniel Nemroff from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania set out to show us what education might look like in the future. In "Technology in Education: A Future Classsroom," Daniel replaces standard texting with a conceptual example of Objective-Based Learning where students work independently, at their own pace, and are motived by achieving a virtual objective. 

Full S[T]EAM Ahead – How Technology Rocks the Classroom. Elementary school students Miles Pilchik and Gabrielle Nafie from SciTech Kids in New York, New York came together to show us how technology can spark children's innate curiosity through hands-on experiences. From iPads to 3D printers, "Full S[T]EAM Ahead" shows us how STEAM activities requires them to think like scientists, inventors, and Makers. 

Tomorrow's Classroom. Eighth grader Alexander Emerson from Manchester, Massachusetts shows us how his classroom uses technology to collaborate with students in Uganda, Rwanda, and Brazil to design a more efficient cookstove. Alex has been making films for several years, including an adaptation of Ambrose Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." 

Building Bridges

Alex. Eleventh grader Aaron Buangsuwon from Atladena, California shot his video "Alex" about his brother, Alex, to shed light on how technology is helping kids with dyslexia and/or dysgraphia learn in a modern school environment. In order to stand out from the other submissions, and in honor of his brother's love of the outdoors, Mitch recorded his video out in nature instead of inside the classroom. 

Posnack Technology: A Day in the Life of Kyle. Seventh graders Marni Rosenblatt, Justin Etzine, and Rachel Huss at the David Posnack Jewish Day School in Davie, Florida came together to tell the story of fellow student Kyle Weintraub, who is being treated for lymphoma in Philadelphia but continues to attend school at Posnack through the use of a special robot. Using the robot, Kyle is able to interact with friends and teachers, venture through the hallways, and participate in class as if he were physically present. 

Double Time. Eighth graders Joshua Leong and Stephen Sheridan from Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia told the story of two sister schools who collaborate on a school project from different parts of the world by using technology. Josh and Stephen wrote the script and traveled to schools and airports to tell their story. 

Hello From Malaysia. Seventeen-year-old Kira Bursky from Asheville, North Carolina has been making films since she was only 10. Her film chronicles a fictional girl, Aiman, who, after being sent to boarding school in the United States, uses technology both to maintain a connection with her family back home in Malaysia and also to share her culture and build connections with her new classmates.