
(CNN) - Students at former Ludlum Elementary School made history when their school became the first in the nation to be renamed after President Barack Obama. It’s virtually unheard of to name an educational institution after a sitting president. Students and parents gathered for the official name change ceremony Wednesday morning where the “Barack Obama Elementary School” sign was unveiled.
During the campaign season, the children became interested in the election, participating in mock presidential debates at the Long Island elementary school - which sits in close proximity to Hofstra University, the site of the final presidential debate.
They began the movement to officially change their school’s name to honor the 44th president. Following the election, the Hempstead School Board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution after students read their written requests to make the name change permanent.
After the inauguration, all 466 students received navy sweatshirts from the school with the words “Yes We Can” emblazoned in English and Spanish. The school is roughly 60 percent Hispanic and 40 percent African-American.
President Obama was invited to the ceremony, but was unable to attend.


TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!!! stop worshiping this man – he doesn't walk on water and hasn't done anything to make him worthy of having anything named after him. The media need to stop worshiping this man. He's just a man, not a supreme being.
I think it is a little too soon to be naming something after him. What if he turns out to be a terrible president. I hope not, but he has only been in office for a couple of weeks. Let's use our heads and not just our hearts.
Erin, Obama has proved plenty and more to come.
I guess half the students are happy
Good for you kids. Nice to have a hero ye. Study hard.
I guess if they can name Airports after Presidents why not schools.
I'm a lifelong democrat and I voted for Obama because I believed his message of change and hope after 8 years of Bush. However, after seeing what he has done since being in office (hiring tax cheats, trying to push this wasteful socialist "stimulus" package on us, turning up the thermostat in the WH while telling us to turn ours down). What a hypocrite!!! I hope you all are doing your homework into the “stimulus” package. A 1500 dollar tax credit for ILLEGAL ALIENS??? I'm having buyer’s remorse about Obama. I think we've been had and I’m really worried about the future of this country. I think one party in control is very dangerous (especially with the likes of Pelosi on the Dems side).
That is 466 more children with a positive image of a president.
Hope is good.
Way to go kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is great...even though I thought you had to be dead for something like this....
And OMFG!!!...why are you Republicans are so hateful and angry? He is inspiring – get over it. We believe in him and his ideas – GET OVER IT!! It's okay that you disagree, but do you have to be so nasty about people who simply see it differently? Even Dems gave Bush respect UNTIL he put the economy in the crapper and killed nearly 6000 of our troops with a bogus war.
You believed in Bush BEFORE he proved himself. Why are you so rude and nasty about people being happy about someone you don't agree with? It just makes you look so childish. Who could respect your views when you absolutely refuse to show respect for others?
I think hatred is only for loosers.. those who have not archieve anything meaningful in life become hatred of the success of others.
CMD, I think you one of them. These kids are more intelligent and will be successful in life than you. Take a deep breath, then go back to see where you tripped but not where you fell.
Have a good day.
kind of premature IMO
Hey, can we get a day off for "Obama Day". Let's make it a national holiday shall we.!!!!
Doesn't the president have to be dead first?
better sounding than Ludlum.
Good. it's better than naming it "W". since he is the dumbest prez in US history.
low class and unimportant
What a disgrace this country has become with the election.
it's amazing how our school children seem to have more respect for our president than our so- called leaders of the republican party do, bless these children, what an honor for President Obama.
Oh, grow up. I live near Jimmy Carter Blvd. and everybody hates him.
@ Whine Whine Whine
Please. If the GOP didn't worship Reagan as some sort of Christ figure, that line of blabber would perhaps score a point of two, but as it is, it's just more hypocrisy from the GOP.
The Obama Drama School, of Confusion??
All 466 students received sweatshirts honoring obama...makes me wonder:
1. How many of their parents are working with ACORN
2. Who paid for the sweatshirts?
3. What if McCAin would've won, would they have changed the school's name...? No? Because he's done nothing? Hm...and Obama has?
This is simply typical of the shallow, liberal mindset.
They'll change the name again after 4 years.
Isn't it great that "educators" are forcing their political views on such impressionable minds?
Keep up the good work "teachers."
I'm with you not so republican. What a great honor for kids to even be so aware and in tune that they would want to name their school after the president. What a great honor!! And a child shall lead.
"I think it's very cool that elementary school kids had the opportunity to be involved and become interested in politics!"
No, these kids were not educated in politics or 100% of them would not have voted the same. They were indoctrinated into socialism based on feelings not facts.