Highlands Grandmother Helped Get Obama to Speak at Rutgers

Rutgers - How did Rutgers get President Barack Obama to speak at its 250th commencement on Sunday?

It helps that Obama has a soft spot for grandmothers. The president said during his speech Sunday:

"I even got three notes from the grandmother of your student body president. I have to say that really sealed the deal. That was smart because I have a soft spot for grandmas," said Obama.

That grandmother who contacted him three times? That would be Dianne Totten, 70, of Highlands, reports NJ.com. She is the grandmother of Rutgers student government president Matthew Panconi, and she sent the White House not one, but three letters asking Obama to come speak at Rutgers.

Before RU, Panconi graduated from South Brunswick High School, where he played varsity football. As the student body president, he gave a speech at commencement. Panconi went to shake Obama's hand, but was instead hugged by the President.

Totten said she was in tears watching the whole event unfold.

As to those letters? No snail mail for this grandma! Totten said she submitted three separate messages via a form on the White House's website. She told NJ.com she can't remember what they said, but the main messages were:

• Obama should speak at Rutgers because it's one of the oldest colleges in America.
• The letter writer is the grandmother of the university's student government president.
• It would be awesome for the graduates to hear the president tell them what America is all about.

Read the full story here.