Obama's day: College summit and Christmas tree

President Obama celebrates the season Thursday while encouraging young people to attend college.

The presidents hosts a second Summit on College Opportunity and, in the early evening, lights the National Christmas Tree.

Building on a meeting in January, the Summit on College Opportunity "will focus on building sustainable collaborations in communities with strong K-12 and higher education partnerships to encourage college attendance," says the White House schedule.

The White House says Obama and other attendees will also look for ways to encourage college graduations, "especially for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students."

The president, first lady Michelle Obama, and Vice President Biden will attend the summit that includes college presidents and educational leaders from across the nation. The White House says organizations will announce more than 600 new actions to help more students prepare for and graduate from college.

Actors/spouses Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson host the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, which features songs and readings before Obama and and his family flip the switch.