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Local student to travel to historic inauguration
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| Lauren Hollins looks forward to attending historic inaguration. |
By DIANE TEZENO
Fifteen-year-old Lauren Hollins will be among the hundreds of thousands of people on hand in the nation’s capitol in January to witness history-in-the-making.
A sophomore at Episcopal High School, the local teen will travel along with classmates to Washington, D.C. for a seven-day stay as a participant of the Close-Up Foundation.
Formed nearly 40 years ago, the nonprofit organization takes students from across the country to Washington each year for an up close look at democracy at work.
This year, students in the program will have the opportunity to take part in a historic moment as U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the nation’s first African-American president.
The moment carries even more significance for Hollins, whose grandmother, Hattie Mae White, opened doors as the first black elected to the Houston Independent School District school board.
“That was a great accomplishment, especially during that time, and she really made it possible for equality for both whites and blacks and all the other races that are here,” the 15-year-old said.
The high school sophomore expressed her excitement on her opportunity to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony.
“This is going to be really big because this is a whole country and it even goes out beyond the country because people from all around the world know about this,” Hollins said of the upcoming inauguration.
Hattie Hollins, daughter of the Houston area civil rights activist, shared her thoughts on her mother’s legacy.
“I think that it is great for our children to realize that with perseverance things can be changed as we saw with the recent presidential election,” Hollins said.
“And that was the thing that my mother did, it did not matter what obstacles were placed in front of her, name-calling, threats on her life, a cross burned in our front yard.”
“She was always very calm and collected and we realized, maybe not as children, but as adults how all her efforts made a change for many people.”
More than 40 area students, including Hollins, accompanied by adult chaperones, will arrive in Washington on Jan. 16 and stay through Jan. 23.
Students learned about the Close Up program last year through teachers at the Episcopal High School and submitted the necessary paperwork to participate in the program.
“I was really pumped up because I was for Obama the whole time and I really wanted to see him put into his presidency,” Hollins said of her hopes in May, when she signed up for the program.
The program, open to all middle and high school students, provides students from across the United States with a unique hands on opportunity to learn about the U.S. government in what coordinators describe as “a living classroom environment” in the nation’s capitol.
Hollins’ father, a local police officer, shared his thoughts on his daughter’s upcoming trip.
“I am excited for my daughter and for young black men that they can reach any goal. This has knocked the top off of it, this has knocked off the glass ceiling of what they can accomplish,” David Hollins said.
“I’ve always taught my children to dream big dreams and give my kids opportunities to make choices and I think that is what Obama has increased by major numbers that our kids can think outside of the box now and the doors are open wide for them to be as creative as they want to be.”
Students will stay at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Washington chaperoned by a team of teachers and will participate in a schedule of daily activities and guided instruction during the trip.
“I just want to be able to say that I was a part of history, because I was there,” the local teen said. “And to get to see the first African-American president, it is going to be really cool.”
According to Hollins, her fellow classmates also are looking forward to the trip.
“They are happy too, even though some were for McCain, but it is still a great opportunity,” Hollins said.
Hollins’ younger sister, Maegan, a student at the Imani School, shares in her sister’s excitement.
“I think she is a lucky person, because she gets to be in history if she gets to meet or see the first black president. I don’t want to brag and say that I am not jealous, because I am, and I want to go really badly, but she said she is going to be really nice and get me stuff from Washington, D.C.,” the 9-year-old said.
Students will witness the inaugural parade and listen as Obama takes his presidential oath and gives his inaugural address and also will participate in a Close Up Inaugural Ball during their trip.
Students will have an opportunity to interact with key government officials, law, business and media representatives to gain insights into the inner workings of government.
Members of the group also will meet members of Congress, visit the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress and several famous memorials, including the Frederick D. Roosevelt and Lincoln Memorials, the World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials and the Mt. Vernon or Arlington cemeteries.
Hollins plans to become a veterinarian and hopes to operate and own her own veterinarian clinic in the future.
For more information on the Close Up Foundation, visit www.closeup.org.
A sophomore at Episcopal High School, the local teen will travel along with classmates to Washington, D.C. for a seven-day stay as a participant of the Close-Up Foundation.
Formed nearly 40 years ago, the nonprofit organization takes students from across the country to Washington each year for an up close look at democracy at work.
This year, students in the program will have the opportunity to take part in a historic moment as U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the nation’s first African-American president.
The moment carries even more significance for Hollins, whose grandmother, Hattie Mae White, opened doors as the first black elected to the Houston Independent School District school board.
“That was a great accomplishment, especially during that time, and she really made it possible for equality for both whites and blacks and all the other races that are here,” the 15-year-old said.
The high school sophomore expressed her excitement on her opportunity to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony.
“This is going to be really big because this is a whole country and it even goes out beyond the country because people from all around the world know about this,” Hollins said of the upcoming inauguration.
Hattie Hollins, daughter of the Houston area civil rights activist, shared her thoughts on her mother’s legacy.
“I think that it is great for our children to realize that with perseverance things can be changed as we saw with the recent presidential election,” Hollins said.
“And that was the thing that my mother did, it did not matter what obstacles were placed in front of her, name-calling, threats on her life, a cross burned in our front yard.”
“She was always very calm and collected and we realized, maybe not as children, but as adults how all her efforts made a change for many people.”
More than 40 area students, including Hollins, accompanied by adult chaperones, will arrive in Washington on Jan. 16 and stay through Jan. 23.
Students learned about the Close Up program last year through teachers at the Episcopal High School and submitted the necessary paperwork to participate in the program.
“I was really pumped up because I was for Obama the whole time and I really wanted to see him put into his presidency,” Hollins said of her hopes in May, when she signed up for the program.
The program, open to all middle and high school students, provides students from across the United States with a unique hands on opportunity to learn about the U.S. government in what coordinators describe as “a living classroom environment” in the nation’s capitol.
Hollins’ father, a local police officer, shared his thoughts on his daughter’s upcoming trip.
“I am excited for my daughter and for young black men that they can reach any goal. This has knocked the top off of it, this has knocked off the glass ceiling of what they can accomplish,” David Hollins said.
“I’ve always taught my children to dream big dreams and give my kids opportunities to make choices and I think that is what Obama has increased by major numbers that our kids can think outside of the box now and the doors are open wide for them to be as creative as they want to be.”
Students will stay at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Washington chaperoned by a team of teachers and will participate in a schedule of daily activities and guided instruction during the trip.
“I just want to be able to say that I was a part of history, because I was there,” the local teen said. “And to get to see the first African-American president, it is going to be really cool.”
According to Hollins, her fellow classmates also are looking forward to the trip.
“They are happy too, even though some were for McCain, but it is still a great opportunity,” Hollins said.
Hollins’ younger sister, Maegan, a student at the Imani School, shares in her sister’s excitement.
“I think she is a lucky person, because she gets to be in history if she gets to meet or see the first black president. I don’t want to brag and say that I am not jealous, because I am, and I want to go really badly, but she said she is going to be really nice and get me stuff from Washington, D.C.,” the 9-year-old said.
Students will witness the inaugural parade and listen as Obama takes his presidential oath and gives his inaugural address and also will participate in a Close Up Inaugural Ball during their trip.
Students will have an opportunity to interact with key government officials, law, business and media representatives to gain insights into the inner workings of government.
Members of the group also will meet members of Congress, visit the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress and several famous memorials, including the Frederick D. Roosevelt and Lincoln Memorials, the World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials and the Mt. Vernon or Arlington cemeteries.
Hollins plans to become a veterinarian and hopes to operate and own her own veterinarian clinic in the future.
For more information on the Close Up Foundation, visit www.closeup.org.
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