it's great to be back in colorado. [ cheers and applause ] >> and it's -- it is great to be here at cu denverrs and applause ] >> i tend to have some pretty good memories about denver. [ cheers and applause ] >> we had a little gathering here a few years ago at mile high. and so coming here gets me fired up even when it's snowing outside, i'm fired up. i don't know where else you can go sledding at halloween. [ laughter ] >> it's like, what's up with the snow this soon? i mean is this actually late? it is late for denver, huh? i want to start by thanking you for the wonderful introduction and for sharing her story which i know resonates with a lot of young people here. i want to thank you your outstanding governors here, john hicken hickenlooper who is in the house. the mayor of denver, michael hancock is in the house. the lieutenant governor, joe garcia, is in the house. [ cheers and applause ] >> and one of the finest public servants, somebody you were wise enough to elect and then re-elect as united states senator, michael bennett is in the house. [ cheers and applause ] >> you guys do a g

to do something that will be especially important to all of you here at cu-denver and millions of studentsomy where businesses can set up shop anywhere there's an internet connection. so we live in a time when over the next decade 60% of new jobs will require more than a high school diploma. and other countries are hustling to out-educate us today so they can out-compete us tomorrow. they want the jobs of the future. i want you to have those jobs. i want america to have those jobs. i want america to have the most highly skilled workers doing the most advanced work. i want us to win the future. so that means we should be doing everything we can to put a college education within reach of every american. that has never been more pos important. but let's face it, it's never been more expensive. there was a new report today, tuition gone up again on average. much faster than inflation. certainly much faster than wages and incomes. over the past three decades, the cost of college has nearly tripled, and that is forcing you, forcing students, to take out more loans and rack up more debt. last yea

[cheers and applause] and it is great to be here at cu-denver. can have some pretty good members -- memories about denver. we had a little gathering here of two years ago, at mile high. so, coming here gets me fired of even when it's snowing outside, i'm fired up. [cheers and applause] i don't know where else you can go sledding in halloween. [laughter] what's up, what's up with the snow? is this actually late? this is late for denver. well, i want to start by thanking the wonderful introduction and for sharing her story, which i know resonates with a lot of young people here. i want to thank your outstanding governor here, who is in the house. [cheers and applause] there he is. the mayor of denver, michael hancock. in the house. [applause] the lieutenant governor, joe garcia, is in the house. [cheers and applause] and one of the finest public servants, somebody you are wise enough to elect and then reelected as tonight state senator, michael bennet is in the house. [cheers and applause] you guys do a good job when it comes to the electing offici