Students: Inauguration Taught Us About Community

A high school trip to a presidential inauguration is a once in a lifetime opportunity. On Thursday, University City High School students attended the School District of University City board of education meeting to share that experience with the board.

Twenty-six UCHS juniors and seniors attended President Barack Obama's second inaugural celebration in January. Sen. Claire McCaskill provided the tickets to the event and community supporters raised the $30,000 needed to fund the trip.

"We have to thank the sponsors," student Ethan Farber said. 

Farber said the jam-packed trip, which included visits to Arlington National Cemetary, the National Mall and many monuments, was a learning experience.

"We had a great talk from Mr. Maclin at the MLK memorial about service to community," Farber said. "That's what I got out of it. This is our community, our president. We need to be included and involved."

UCHS Principal Michael Maclin told the board the trip was an educational opportunity that was second to none. He added that many times he was approached about the well behaved group.

"People thought they were college students, not high schoolers," he said.

Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt also shared a letter the District received from a flight attendent on the students' flight. The United Airlines employee wanted the District to know that the group was one of the best large student groups she had seen.

"They represented their community, their district, their parents and their high school well," Pruitt said. 

More photos from the trip are available on the School District's web site.

See more on this story:

• UCHS Students Return from Inauguration Trip
• UCHS Students Will Be on CNN Today
• UCHS Students Ready for Inauguration Trip
• Community Effort Is Sending UCHS Students to Inauguration