KALAMAZOO, MI -- Former President Barack Obama sent a note to Kalamazoo Central High School students, praising and encouraging their actions in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Florida.

"I have great memories of my visit back in 2010, so I just wanted to write a quick note to say how proud I am of your leadership in the aftermath of the Florida shooting," the note reads.

Kalamazoo Public Schools posted the note on its Facebook page Monday, March 5. The school said Obama sent an email to Kalamazoo Central High School Principal Valerie Boggan with the note for students.

Remember when President Barack Obama visited Kalamazoo Central? Apparently, he remembers the visit and the students, and... Posted by Kalamazoo Public Schools on Monday, March 5, 2018

The Feb. 14 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, left 17 people dead.

A group of seven Kalamazoo Central High School students created a petition, "Students Fighting Guns Since Adults Won't," that calls on state and federal representatives to pass "comprehensive and responsible gun control policy."

Students participated in a rally in Lansing after the petition went viral.

It had 185,098 signatures on the morning of Monday, March 6.

Jalen Smith, 17, a Kalamazoo Central High School senior, helped created the petition. He said he was awestruck to hear from Obama.

"It was very out of the blue and the last thing I expected," Smith said. "Reading the letter furthered my motivation, and it was very exciting for our group when we got the news."

Obama's letter says the students' engagements on important issues are what the country needs, and tells them to "stay at it, even if progress sometimes seems slow."

"I look forward to hearing about all the positive change each of you will bring in the years to come!" the note reads.