President Obama visited Concord Community High School on June 1 to deliver a speech about the economy. (Photos by Maggie Kenworthy)

ELKHART — On Wednesday, June 1, President Obama visited Concord Community High School for the second time during his presidency. Concord High School students, staff and graduating seniors made up the majority of the audience. The remaining tickets were distributed on Tuesday morning, May 31.

Before the speech even started all of the available seats were full, causing some audience members to stand behind chairs. Concord Community High School staff estimated that 2,075 people were in attendance for the event.

The high school appointed 50 students to help with the event as volunteers. Rachel Deshone, a Concord High School junior, helped stop audience members from bringing in banners or signs. “I thought the speech was very interesting and insightful,” said Deshone. “I had never seen that side of politics before.”

Many local leaders were also in attendance for the event including Senator Joe Donnelly, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and St. Joseph County Commissioner Andy Kostielney.

After his speech at Concord Community High School, Obama went on to a closed town hall meeting at the Lerner Theatre. There he talked to Elkhart residents about their concerns with the economy. The event was broadcasted on local PBS station WNIT.