Michelle Obama surprises DC students at College Signing Day celebration NBC4 Washington [Video]

Former first lady Michelle Obama surprised high school students Tuesday at the College Signing Day event at Capital One Arena, where thousands of D.C. seniors celebrated the end of high school and the beginning of their college careers.

They were expecting to see D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

“There is a big world out there waiting for you to be a leader in it,” she told them.

But they did not expect Obama.

“We need your vision,” she told them. “We need your energy, we need your ideas, we need your perspectives to help us to continue to build a more just and equal nation and world, at this point.”

Obama started College Signing Day 10 years ago to shine a light on the importance of academic success and a college education.

Washington Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, who chairs the DC College Access Program that provides college scholarships, opened up the arena for the event and began by thanking teachers and parents.

“Stand up,” …