Throwback Thursday: Cherry Hill National Young Scholar witnesses history at 2009 Presidential Inauguration
In the Jan. 14, 2009 edition of the Cherry Hill Sun, then-Beck Middle School student Emily Miraglia talked about getting the chance to see the first inauguration of President Barack Obama in person.
A week from Friday, another page will be added to the United States history books as President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States.
The last time a new president was inaugurated, a young Cherry Hill student got the chance to witness history thanks to her participating in a national scholar program.
In 2009, Emily Miraglia was then a 12-year-old sixth grade student at Beck Middle School. She received the opportunity to travel with the Junior Inaugural Scholars and attend the first inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama.
Prior to the trip to Washington D.C., Emily spoke to the Cherry Hill Sun’s Robert Linnehan about her receiving the chance to witness history.
“This is really a great opportunity for me and everyone involved. It’s great to be at an event like this when I’m so young,” Emily said in 2009. “It will be such a historic event. It’s going to stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Emily became a National Young Scholar as a fourth grade student at Cooper Elementary School. The program is designed for the highest acclaimed second, third, fourth and fifth grade students in the United States.
Emily was able to impress the NYSP representatives enough to become one of 1,000 students to participate in the inauguration program.
The program was so much more than the inauguration. Emily also got the chance to learn in education training sessions.
“As part of the Junior Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference, Emily will have the opportunity to not only take part in the Inaugural festivities, but will also participate in Leadership Training with political VIPs such as former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, former Vice President Al Gore and Eric Weihenmayer,” said Kathryn Miraglia, Emily’s mother.
Are you participating in the 2016 presidential inauguration on Jan. 20? Let us know! Email news@cherryhillsun.com.
