The 2009 Presidential Inauguration Through The Eyes Of Our Students

Shalay Thomas

Natasha Thompson

Kimberly DeWitt

Christina Donkor

Jayla Tunstall

Students will witness history

Seven Twin Rivers students who attend Rio Linda High school will be in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20 when Barack Obama is sworn in as President of the United States.

You'll be able to read all about their journey with history on our Web site (www.twinriversusd.org). Five of the students will blog about their time in the nation's capital. They'll also provide streaming video of the inauguration.

"I'm very excited about making the trip to witness history up close," says senior Jayla Tunstall. "It's inspirational. I never thought I would see this day, a black person elected president."

The students will leave Jan. 17th and return after the inauguration. Three of them-Starla Rae, Rachael Want and Natasha Thompson-are going as part of a tour operated by Smithsonian Student Travel, which is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. They learned about it from their teacher Jennifer Wilderman, who will accompany them, along with teacher Yolanda Jimenez.

"I've been telling people I'm going and they don't believe me," says Thompson. "But I'm really excited. I really just want to witness history. I'm also interested in going to all the museums."

Four other students-Tunstall, Christina Donkor, Kimberly DeWitt and Shalay Thomas-are members of Rio Linda's Black Student Union (BSU)/Cultural Diversity Club. They began raising money last spring for a trip to visit Southern California colleges. After the election, they decided they could not miss the educational and historical inauguration ceremony.

"I've never been out of the state and it'll be my first time on a plane," says Donkor. "It makes it even more adventurous for me. I'm glad I'm able to go."

Ed Banks, a Rio Linda High math teacher and BSU adviser, along with substitute teacher Anitra McMillon, will also make the trip. Banks applied for media credentials and was in Washington D.C. Jan. 11 with McMillon and four of the students for the inauguration rehearsal.

"It's a tremendous opportunity and amazing for our school that seven students are going," says Banks. "I want all the students to get a deep appreciation of the moment and the historical nature of it ... that the American system does work. They'll have the memories of this experience for the rest of their lives."

Inaugural organizers are preparing for as many as 4 million people. The students are a little numb right now.

"It's very cool," says Want. "I'm pretty proud that I'm going."

"For me, it hasn't all sunk in," says Rae. "I'm excited, though. I'm sure it'll all sink in once I get there. I'm almost ready to go. I just need to make sure I have everything I need to take with me."

"This trip is going to be great," says an enthusiastic DeWitt.

Find Out More

We are going to the Inauguration Ceremony of the 44th President of the United States!

Seven Twin Rivers students who attend Rio Linda High School will be in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20 when Barack Obama is sworn in as President of the United States. Jayla Tunstall, Starla Rae, Rachel Want, Natasha Thompson, Christina Donkor, Kimberly DeWitt and Shalay Thomas are leaving for the nation's capital Jan. 17-18. Four teachers will accompany them. The students are thrilled to witness this day in history and will share their stories with you via live streaming video and blogs.

Twin Rivers students to blog from the inauguration

Several Twin Rivers students will report on the presidential inauguration from Washington D.C. via blogs (web logs). Natasha Thompson, Christina Donkor, Juyla Tunstall, Kimberly DeWitt and Shalay Thomas will be among an estimated 4 million people expected at the inauguration of the first African-American president. They say it's a historical event they could not miss.

Twin Rivers students to provide video of the inauguration

Inaugural organizers are preparing for as many as 4 million people, however a few of our students have been given media credentials which allows them to have an up-close view of the inauguration ceremony.

Live Video Feed on Day Of Event

Twin Rivers Unified School District