Georgia Southern University Students to Attend Inauguration

Next week's inauguration is expected to draw millions to Washington.

Many from our area are going to take part in the historic event including Savannah mayor, Otis Johnson, which Alaina Anderson wrote about today
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It's also a once in a lifetime opportunity for some area college students. As news 3 education reporter, Randi Hempel tells us, some Georgia Southern University students will be there when history is made.

Some Georgia Southern University students have more than enough to talk about. They just voted in their first presidential election and they're a select few traveling to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.

“Being an African-American male going to this event, this is better than the million man march. This is my 13th time going to Washington," says GSU senior, Adrian Adams-White.

"I feel that this is something for me to be able to go to Washington and actually observe that coronation and to see that moment where we pass from one era in our country to another. That's really something that's an awesome responsibility that I feel very blessed and honored to have that opportunity to actually come see first hand,” explains GSU junior, James Kicklighter.

Out of nearly 18,000 students at Georgia Southern University, only ten will be attending the inauguration, but those students will be bringing back their experiences to share with everyone else on campus.

"There are lots of students on this campus that would love to go on this trip and I feel that having this opportunity. It is also my responsibility to come back and kind of bring back that message to students and to this campus, you know what is delivered here at the nation's capitol,” adds Kicklighter.

And the inauguration along with participating in Coretta Scott King's funeral are events Adrian Adams-White will pass on to his children and grandchildren.

“Outside of Georgia Southern, I will tell them that I was there to witness history on that day, to give honor to a man and to a society that wanted to work towards difference, one that wanted to unite to see past color or financial power educational status what have you, religious status, to see the true essence of any man or woman, to know that we are one America, we are one world we are one mankind,” explains Adams-White.

The students will leave for Washington during the early morning hours Monday and return at 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

The students were selected to attend the inauguration after they wrote essays explaining their involvement in the campus community and commitment to organizations on campus.

Find out more at GSU Students to Witness History.