Lake Highlands Elementary student to attend Inauguration
1 Rating / 0 Comments
On January 20th, LHE 6th grader Andrew Kirsop will be in Washington, D.C. hob-knobbing with the likes of former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, former Vice President Al Gore, and seven time Tour de France cyclist Lance Armstrong, thanks to his former school Principal. Connie Eide of Valley ChristianAcademy in Aurora, Ohio, Andrew’s school before moving with his family to Lake Highlands last year, saw leadership qualities in her then 4th grade student and nominated him to attend the National Young Scholars Program in Washington. He excelled during his week-long summer course and because of that, last year received an invitation from the Junior Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (JrPYIC) to attend the 2009 Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, whoever it was to be. According to Andrew’s mom Denise, “When we received the invitation, we were relieved the program didn’t encourage youth to be thinking along either Republican or Democratic party lines, but rather encouraged dialog and thoughtful contemplation along with strong leadership development. As a family we made the commitment to have Andrew attend the inauguration without knowing who the newly elected President of the USA would be! Andrew is excited to personally witness history unfolding.” The JrPYIC is an offshoot program of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC) which provides elementary through high school scholars the opportunity to experience a deeper understanding of the history behind the electoral process and the rich traditions surrounding the presidential inauguration. Through interaction with congressional staff, national journalists, leading decision-makers, renowned scholars and military leaders, JrPYIC scholars receive direct experience and guidance that cannot be found in textbooks.
Marguerite Regan, Dean of Academic Affairs for the CYLC says, “The JrPYIC provides students with an opportunity to take part in historic events that coincide with the Inauguration of the President of the United States. Something that is really wonderful about so many young people gathering in Washington, D.C. for this event is that it will provide them a chance to become more familiar with and attuned to the President who will govern our country over the next four years. We certainly hope this will inspire the next generation of U.S. leaders.”
Denise is traveling with Andrew to Washington but once there, they’ll be at different hotels while he and the other students attending the event are chaperoned by counselors as they conduct their courses of study.
Andrew’s interests lie in a variety of areas: He plays trumpet in the school band and also plays Appalachian dulcimer, recorder and piano. He’s active in the LHUMC Boy Scout Troop 890 and plays on the Rebels basketball team sponsored by the SVAA. But Andrew will have to forgo those activities for his five days in Washington while he explores the National Mall’s monuments and museums with private access to the Smithsonian, attends conferences covering the Electoral College and the many roles of the President of the United States, listens to keynote speakers such as General Powell, Vice President Gore and Lance Armstrong, visits with White House officials and congressional staff members, has lunch at the historic Wardman Park Hotel while the Presidential motorcade makes its way to the White House down Pennsylvania Avenue, attends the Gala Inaugural Ball, and perhaps most importantly, witnesses the Inauguration, Oath of Office and Inaugural Address of the 44th President of the United States of America.
