Students, others set for presidential inauguration trips

Students from Theodore Lester Elementary School in Florence and Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology in Darlington are among others in the Pee Dee who will attend the 44th Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20.

“This is history-making, so we felt our students needed to be a part of it,” said Lester Elementary principal Greg Mingo.

Lester’s group of 13 Junior Beta Club students and nine adults will depart Florence at 6:30 a.m. Jan. 19. The group will return Jan. 21.

While in Washington, D.C., the group will participate in a guided tour through Travel Adventures. They will see several historic sites and national monuments including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Nickia Burks, a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Lester, said she has planned the trip since March.

Burks said she thought the trip would be an experience every child should have.

“I attended an inaugural event when I was in the sixth grade and it just made a world of difference for me,” she said. “Some of the students have never seen anything like this. They’re very excited (about going).”

Burks said the students created a scrapbook to document the electoral process and look forward to witnessing the ceremony.

Jill Knight, a teacher at Mayo, is coordinating a trip that will include juniors and seniors studying U.S. history and government, as well as some sophomores and chaperones.

The group of 36 participants will leave Jan.18 and return Jan. 21. The trip will include a guided tour from Smithsonian Student Travel.

Knight said she thought the trip would be “an excellent learning opportunity for the students given the historical significance of the election.

“I really hope by taking our students they get more involved in history and government,” she said. “So many barriers have been broken down with this entire presidential election.”

International Baccalaureate students at both Williams Middle and Wilson High schools also are taking a guided tour to the city.

But students aren’t the only ones gearing up for the presidential ceremony.

New Ebenezer Baptist and Savannah Grove Baptist churches are both taking members to see the historical ceremony. Seating for both buses are unavailable.

Sherrie Joseph, a collections supervisor at McLeod Health, is sponsoring a charter bus for the swearing-in ceremony and parade.

The cost to ride is $150 per person. The bus will depart Florence at midnight Jan. 20 and return some time that night.

Joseph said she did some volunteer work for the Democratic Party and didn’t want to stop there, so she wanted to an opportunity for people to travel to Washington.

“This is the event of the century,” Joseph said. “It’s really history in the making and I just really wanted to be a part of it.”

To purchase a seat on Joseph’s bus, call (843) 407-0396 by Dec. 31. Cash and money orders will be accepted, and seats are available on a first-come, first served basis.

ON THE WEB

Lester Elementary School: www.fsd1.org/lester

Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology: http://mhs.dcsdschools.org

If You’re Going

The Morning News is looking for people who are traveling to Washington, D.C., who can be a part of our inauguration coverage. We also want to hear your story and see photographs of your trip.

If you’re going to the inauguration, contact Shireese M. Bell at (843) 317-6397 or sbell@florencenews.com.