Students’ Extra Effort Was a Capital Idea

Juana Gonzales couldn’t wait to visit Washington after her sister Veronica went last year.

But the wait now seems worth it, because the sophomore at Valencia High School in Placentia will get to see something her sister didn’t--President Bill Clinton being sworn into office.

“My sister took pictures of all this neat stuff, and I hoped I could go too,” said Gonzales, 15, who will attend the ceremonies with three of her Valencia classmates. “And this time we get to see the inauguration.”

Gonzales is one of 10 Orange County high school students from Valencia, Anaheim and San Clemente high schools who will visit the Capitol for the first time.

They are part of a nationwide group of 4,000 students, mostly new immigrants whose parents have yet to become citizens, who are being shown the seat of American government and encouraged to join the democratic process.

“The whole idea is for them to come home and encourage their parents to become citizens and participate in their community,” said Irene Delmark, a U.S. Migrant Education Office employee assigned to Valencia.

Children of migrant farm workers qualify for Migrant Education Office assistance, which includes after-school tutoring and community service programs.

The office, part of the Department of Education, is financing the trip for the 10 students under the banner of the New American program. The program is sponsored by the nonprofit Close Up Foundation, which works with schools to give students hands-on civics lessons in Washington.

Typically, the Washington trip is in June, but the sponsors decided to move it up to take advantage of the inauguration to study more about the American political process, Delmark said.

“They learn about their new government and it inspires them to be citizens,” she said. “The best part of it is when they come back. They become leaders and active participants in school. They realize one person can make a difference.”

The students are excited. Though their itinerary is packed with lectures and activities, all of them have one place they want to visit before leaving.

The goal of Abel Soto, 16, of Placentia is to visit the Pentagon. “After I graduate from high school I want to join the Army,” he said.

Janeth Zaragoza, 14, of Anaheim is looking forward to visiting all the presidential monuments, and Alberto Villanueva, 17, of Fullerton is ready for some tours. “I want to see the White House--from the inside,” he said.

Valencia High School Principal David Verdugo, who will chaperon the students during their weeklong visit, is equally excited. He’s never been to the nation’s capital either.

“A lot of what they’ll experience, I’ll experience myself,” said Verdugo, who hopes they’ll get a good seat for the inauguration. “We read about it or watch it on TV, but this is a lifelong memory of being there firsthand.”