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Local Students to Experience Presidential Inauguration in Person

by KREX News Room
by Cori Coffin

Story Created: Jan 16, 2013 at 12:08 AM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 16, 2013 at 12:08 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - For the second time, President Barack Obama will be sworn into office in Washington D.C. on Monday, Jan. 21. One lucky group of local students will get to experience it in person.

Five girls and 3 boys from Christian Community Schools in Clifton were barely able to contain themselves on Tuesday when NewsChannel 5 paid a visit to their classroom to talk about the trip.

"It's pretty cool. I feel like a cool kid because not a lot of people get to do that," said Raena Anderson, a high school junior.

They leave Thursday to head to spend a week in the nation's capitol, learning about the country's history first-hand.

"I think it will be a good experience, something I can look back on and say, 'I got to go to that,'" added freshman Cindy Lee.

"I'm looking forward to it because it's a once in a lifetime thing. It's the second term of an African-American president; I think that's a major thing ," said junior Robert Toney.

"It's a great experience for the kids that they can't get from textbooks and sitting in classrooms," said Cheryl DuCray, the school's secondary director.

This is the third inauguration trip DuCray has organized for her students, through World Strides.

"I took about a dozen students to the Bush inauguration," she said.

DuCray loves knowing that trips like these really shape her students' futures.

"One of them actually emailed me in the fall and she was serving an internship at the Capitol building," added DuCray.

"She is not only our teacher, she is one of our friends. We hang out with her; she does everything for us," said Anderson.

Not only will they see the 44th president sworn in again, they will visit places like Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian.

"The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is what I'm really looking forward to," said Toney.

"These kids are going to find that it's a very surreal experience," added Christie Harris, this year's trip chaperone.

The trip also serves to get the next generation involved in a future that is soon to be theirs.

"I want to learn how the choices [the president] made affect the economy," added Toney.

"Whether you voted for him or not, it's just a chance to see history in the making," said Harris.

The students spent a year saving up for the trip, with fundraisers, donations from community businesses and their own personal funds.

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Floyd said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 8:31 PM

It's a shame these kids are going to DC to cheer for someone who is going to destroy thier future.

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