Witnesses to history
BY ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2009
1/16/09 at 2:47 AM
Three students from Carver Middle School have a special homework assignment for the weekend — to document Barack Obama's inauguration in photos and journals.
When Principal Melissa Woolridge learned that sixth-grader Darian Walters, seventh-grader Justin Jordan, and eighth-grader Corey Myers were all heading to Washington D.C., she armed them with disposable cameras and worksheets.
"The hope is that each student will record this memorable event and bring back a life experience to share with the rest of Carver Middle School and the Tulsa community," Woolridge said.
The students are all traveling independently. Darian is going with his mother; Corey and his two brothers are making the trip with their parents; and Justin will be joining a group of kids from across the U.S. in Washington.
"My mom bought the plane tickets after the third debate," Darian said. "She knew it was over."
For Darian, the trip will be his second to the nation's capital, so he already has a strategy for getting great photos for his classmates.
"I'm going to use my own digital camera for the inauguration — try to get famous people and stuff like that," he said. "And I will use the disposable camera for all the sights."
For Justin, the inauguration will mark his third trip to Washington — and the second time he has seen Obama in person.
"I got to give him a fist tap at a (campaign) rally in Missouri," he said, demonstrating for Principal Woolridge.
"Really? I didn't know that!" she said.
Corey is the trio's Washington and political novice.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Barack Obama in person," he said.
For all three boys, Obama's inauguration holds personal significance because it will be the first time any of them can recall the swearing-in of a new president.
"I was 3 when Bush was inaugurated" the first time, Darian said.
"I was 5," Justin said.
There's a chance that the three Carver students could run into a couple of other familiar faces at the inauguration — Carver's seventh-grade counselor Pat Salim and student registrar Pat Clark also are making the trip.
"It's such an exciting, historic time, and I've never been to an inauguration," Salim said.
"And, boy, it was hard to get a ticket!"
Clark said she couldn't pass up the opportunity, either — even though she will be making the trip solo on a chartered bus.
"I started out with a group of girlfriends, but they all dropped out for one reason or another," she said. "I said, 'I am sorry. I am going. It's too important.'
"I went to see the pope in April," she said, "so this just seemed like the thing to do."
Andrea Eger 581-8470
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com
Send your own photos
If you are attending the inaugural festivities
in Washington, D.C., e-mail your
photographs and as many as 200 words
of text for inclusion in the Tulsa World’s
Web coverage: Send your own photos
If you are attending the inaugural festivities
in Washington, D.C., e-mail your
photographs and as many as 200 words
of text for inclusion in the Tulsa World’s
Web coverage: web@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Carver Middle School students Darian Walters (left), Corey Myers and Justin Jordan are all going to attend the presidential inauguration. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Carver Middle School students Darian Walters (left), Corey Myers and Justin Jordan are all going to attend the presidential inauguration. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
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