President Barack Obama surprised graduates and their families with a special visit to the graduation ceremonies of Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Tuesday.

The school was picked from among thousands of entrants as the winner of the White House's "Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge."

The high school's vision for providing college scholarships to all students who wanted and needed them was among the ideals that attracted the president.

For their prize for winning the contest, President Obama delivered the Class of 2010's commencement address.

"It is good to be here and congratulations Class of 2010," Obama told a cheering crowd.

"I didn't think it was real until it actually happened. I said to myself, 'Oh my goodness.' It was surreal to me," 2010 graduate Elizabeth Valle said. "I didn't know he knew so much about us. He was researching us and reading our paper. That was amazing."

The president also congratulated each one of the graduates with a handshake and one-on-one words at an informal meeting before the graduation ceremony.