Pool Reports of May 28, 2022

Out-of-town pool report #1: Schedule

Good morning from Wilmington, where it's 64 degrees and sunny.

This morning, POTUS will deliver the commencement address at his alma mater, the University of Delaware. He's scheduled to speak at 9:30 am.

The graduation ceremony is the only event on his schedule for today. Your pooler will let you know if that changes.

Out-of-town pool report #2: Departure

Motorcade is rolling at 8:24 am toward the University of Delaware in Newark.

Out-of-town pool report #3: Arrival

Motorcade arrived at the University of Delaware at 8:41 am.

Pool did not see POTUS enter the stadium.

Out-of-town pool report #4: Color and background

The graduation ceremonies are being held in Delaware Stadium on the campus of the University of Delaware. Graduates dressed in blue graduation gowns and mortarboard caps are seated in rows of white folding chairs in the middle of the stadium, facing the stage. Guests are seated in the stands.

It's 70 degrees and sunny in Newark.

POTUS is scheduled to begin speaking at 9:30 a.m. His remarks will be live streamed on the White House website (www.whitehouse.gov), so I will not be sending quotes from his speech.

Some background from the university:

Number of graduates in the Class of 2022: 6,411

School founded: 1743

Mascot: Fightin' Blue Hens

Motto: "Scientia sol mentis est." (Knowledge is the light of the mind).

President Biden graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965 with a double major in history and political science. The university's public policy school, the Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, bears his name and houses The Biden Institute, an intellectual center and destination for scholars, activists, policymakers and national leaders.

This will be the fifth time POTUS has spoken at the university's commencement. His previous commencement addresses were in 1978, 1987, 2004 and 2014.

First lady Jill Biden and the president's sister, Valerie Biden Owens, also are graduates of the university.

Out-of-town pool report #5: POTUS speaks

POTUS began his remarks at 10:23 a.m.

More color:

POTUS, wearing sunglasses and a blue robe with large black and gold stripes on the sleeves, took the stage at 9:41 a.m. as a band played "Hail to Chief." He was greeted with loud cheers and a standing ovation.

"Yay, Joe!" someone in the crowd yelled.

Valerie Biden Owens, the president's sister, is seated on the stage.

Before his remarks, POTUS was presented with the University of Delaware Medal of Distinction by John Cochran, chairman of the university's Board of Trustees. The medal is one of the university's highest honors and is awarded to those who have made humanitarian, cultural, intellectual or scientific contributions to society or have achieved noteworthy success in their chosen fields. The university's president, Dennis Assanis, draped the medal around the president's neck. Afterward, POTUS took a selfie with Assanis.

In introducing POTUS, Assanis called him "a loyal friend" of the university.

Out-of-town pool report #6: Remarks end

POTUS concluded his remarks at 10:51 a.m.

More on the selfie that POTUS took with Assanis and the Class of 2022: The selfie is an annual tradition that President Assanis leads.

Out-of-town pool report #7: Event concludes

Pool was escorted back to the press bus at 11:09 am.

POTUS was still on the stage, but the ceremony was wrapping up.

Out-of-town pool report #8: Departure

Motorcade is rolling back to Wilmington at 11:22 am.

Out-of-town pool report #9: Lid

Motorcade arrived back at POTUS' residence at 11:43 am. Pool did not seen him exit the SUV.

We have a travel photo lid.