Some Baltimore-area students who have demonstrated strong academic and leadership skills received the golden ticket to witness the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday in Washington D.C.
Annapolis Area Christian School student Ryan Cato, of Severn, is among 400 2009 Presidential Scholars — including about 40 from Maryland — who will attend the 2009 Presidential Youth Leadership Conference, which is sponsored by LeadAmerica, the nation’s premiere youth leadership organization.
“For me, my chest is really hanging out — It’s one of those things that comes around once in a lifetime,” said Tony Cato, Ryan father.
“It’ll give him a chance to start to get a sense of public service.”
The conference, which will be held Friday through Tuesday, will allow Ryan to participate in various activities, including briefings with military and intelligence officers and government and agency officials, a meeting with a senior political strategist and an inside analysis of the 2008 election.
In addition to the inauguration, Ryan will attend the inaugural parade and an inaugural ball. Ryan couldn’t be reached for comment by deadline.
“It is my sincere hope that this experience will instill in these young leaders ethical and principled values that will help them along the road toward a successful and rewarding life of leadership,” said Chris Salamone, founder and executive director of LeadAmerica, in a statement.
Another student, Melvin Thomas II, 14, an eighth-grader at Elkridge Landing Middle School in Howard County, was selected to attend the inauguration because he participated in the Junior National Young Leader Conference this past spring.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Melvin who’ll be joined by about 3,000 middle-school age students and at least 10 from the Baltimore region.
“I’m going to see the first black president.”
The conference, a program of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, teaches high-achieving middle-schoolers about leadership by having them study past leaders and focus on social advocacy to make a positive impact in their communities.
“The closer the day comes, the more excited I become because my child has a chance to witness this,” said Danna Thomas, his mother. “I’m talking to him about the record crowds.”
Elkridge Landing Middle Principal Tom Saunders said Melvin was nominated by the school’s guidance department because of his superior academic and behavior.
“We are really excited for him,” Saunders said. “He’s a nice kid and comes from a great family.”
The school is sending him with a digital camera so he can document his experience.
Melvin is expected to leave for Washington on Saturday and return Wednesday.
He’ll be participating in several educational activities, meeting famous leaders such as Colin Powell and Al Gore, and of course witnessing the inauguration and attending a parade and inaugural ball.
