NEGAUNEE -- WiMax enabled the President to communicate live with some lucky students from Negaunee and Powell Township.

The moments leading up to the big WiMax reveal at Negaunee High School could be best described as 'tense.'  In just minutes, a chemistry classroom full of students would be streaming live to the President of the United States.

"This isn't a fluke, this isn't a joke, this is the real deal," says 11th grade Negaunee student, Phil Meglathery.

Negaunee High School and Powell Township School have been collaborating, along with Northern Michigan University, to hold educational video conferences, distance learning, and field trips.  Home Internet access for all students is the next step.

They say WiMax is the "second generation" of this technology because it sends the signal even further, making it ideal for rural communities.

Thursday, everything went off without a hitch.  The distance learning demo went so well that President Obama joked there may be one thing heading toward extinction for U.P. schools:  snow days.

"On a bad snow day, you guys can all plug in and go to class anyway," said President Obama.