Obama, earning what was possibly the loudest cheer of the night when she came up on the screen, apologized for not being able to make it to the ceremony before praising Chance, whom she and Barack have known “since he was a wee little baby rapper.”
“It has been a thrill watching him come into his own in so many ways,” said the former First Lady. “In addition to making some really amazing music, Chance has been taking that big bright spotlight that follows him around, and he’s shining it on young people in our hometown of Chicago.”
Chance has been involved in improving education in Chicago, writing a $1 million check to the city’s public school system as well as donating $10,000 to individual schools around the city. He cites the importance of education in success and champions children’s “God-given right to learn.”
Watch Obama’s entire congratulations speech above.
