Education Secretary Betsy DeVos did not receive a warm welcome Wednesday while delivering the commencement at Bethune-Cookman University, a historically black university in Daytona Beach, Fla.

As DeVos began her keynote address, some of the graduating students stood up with their backs turned to the secretary and the secretary struggled to be heard over a wave of boos from her audience.

"Let's choose to hear each other out," DeVos said in her prepared remarks. "We can choose to listen, be respectful and continue to learn from each other's experience," she said, according to Politico.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos booed during HBCU commencement address https://t.co/ULWt5BrMj9 pic.twitter.com/VGtfPaRffl— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) May 10, 2017



At one point the university president, Edison Jackson, took the podium and warned that if the noise continued that their ceremony would be cut short. "Your degrees will be mailed to you. Choose which way you want to go," he said.

Eventually, most of the students sat down and one man was escorted out by security, Politico reported.

Jackson has faced backlash for invited DeVos to speak at the school, according to the Associated Press. Comments made by DeVos in February, when she celebrated HBCUs as "pioneers" of "school choice," were not received well because of the historical contest by which HBCUs were created during a time of racial segregation in the U.S.

During the White House press briefing on Wednesday, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders said Bethune-Cookman University "is a great example of the top-notch education HBCUs have historically provided and continued to provide to their students."

She added: "I know the secretary is honored to be there today."