By DON STINE
Two Neptune High School students will be attending a very special and historic event in January; the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States in Washington D.C.
Sophomores Dan Gizzi, 15, and Diandra Navarro, 16, have been selected by the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference, which is part of the National Young Leaders Conference, to attend the inauguration on Jan. 20.
The youth conference is held every four years during an inaugural event to better educate young people about politics and give them related, first-hand experience.High School Principal Richard Allen said this is a great opportunity for both students, especially since this inauguration is so historic.
“There is so much history involved in this one. To go to any inauguration is special but to go when there is so much historical significance is even greater for them. It’s another example of bringing the school curriculum alive,” Allen said.
Gizzi and Navarro said this will truly be one of the experiences of a lifetime. They both participated in a National Young Leaders Conference in the past and they will be among only 100 or more students selected from around the country to attend the inauguration.
Gizzi, who is an Obama supporter, said he is very excited about attending the inauguration.
“It should be interesting to see because this is so historic and I have never been to one before,” he said.
Navarro said she has been an Obama supporter from the start.
“I am really excited because this is the first African-American man in history to be president and it will be such an historic day,” she said.
“I don’t even have words to explain it. You are used to seeing people on television, in magazines, or in the newspaper, but to see them in-person is a real honor,” she said.
The two students will car pool to Washington and stay at a Marriott Hotel outside Washington, DC from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 with the other teenagers selected to view the inauguration. They will also pay their own expenses.
The students with the group are also expected to be recognized during the inauguration ceremony and attend the following parade and inaugural ball.
They will also get to meet and hear keynote speakers hosted by their group, including Lance Armstrong, Colin Powell, John and Elizabeth Edwards, and others.
The two students said there may be a little jealousy among their fellow students about being selected to attend the inauguration.
“They are happy for us but they may be a bit jealous because our school really supported Obama,” Navarro said.
And the jealousy doesn’t necessarily stop there- it continues on the home front.
“My Mom is actually really jealous and wants me to continue to participate in great things like this,” Navarro said.
“I want to be a pediatrician but politics is always interesting to me,” she said.
Gizzi said he is very interested in politics but probably wants to do something with music after he graduates.
“My Dad is very political and always wanted to go to an inauguration. But he is pretty happy for me,” he said.
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