The United States will inaugurate its 44th
president on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, on the steps of the
U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. At least three Schalmont
High School students will be among the crowd to witness this
historical event: ninth-graders Michelle Gallo and
Shelby King, and junior John Jaster.
Gallo and King are journeying to D.C. to take part in the
Presidential Youth
Inaugural Conference (PYIC). According to the PYIC Web
site, the conference is designed to educate, motivate and
inspire students by giving them a deeper understanding of
the electoral history of the United States and their roles
in democracy. The two girls were invited to attend because
of their participation in a National Youth Leadership Forum
last year.
“It’s the first African American
president, so it’s an honor to go,” said Gallo.
The highlight of the conference is of
course the inauguration, but PYIC participants will have a
variety of other educational opportunities. They will attend
workshops, listen to keynote speakers such as former Vice
President Al Gore and former Secretary of State
Colin
Powell, tour various
museums and monuments, and attend an inaugural ball.
Gallo wasn’t particularly into
politics, but after being invited to attend the
inauguration, she did a lot of research and read up on some
of the speakers. “[The PYIC] gave us some books to read and
told us to get informed because we might get to ask
questions,” she said.
King watched the last two presidential
inaugurations on TV with her parents. “It’s exciting to
actually see [Obama] in person and go to a ball. I feel
special and selected,” she said.
“I just wanted to go for fun, and I’m
into politics,” said Jaster, who is attending the
inauguration through the
People to People Student Ambassador Program. “I’ve never
been to something this big.”
These students will brave very cold
temperatures and big crowds on Tuesday, but that clearly
isn’t dampening their excitement about the historic
opportunity.
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