Somerset students preparing to visit Washington, D.C., for Trump inauguration

First time junior high school has sent students to inauguration

SOMERSET, Texas – It was off to bed early Wednesday for several seventh- and eighth-graders from Somerset Junior High School, assuming they can even fall asleep.

The kids are preparing to get on a plane Thursday to fly to Washington, D.C., to witness history: The inauguration of President Trump.

Hours before their flight, the students and their chaperone went over last-minute details, from their itinerary to all the sights they will take in.

"We're going to see something that can change everything," seventh-grader Skylar Fernandez said.

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Though students from the high school went to President Obama's inauguration in 2009, it is the first time students from the junior high school have attended a presidential inauguration.

Over the course of four days, the students' classroom will be the nation’s capital. The families paid $2,000 to send students, several held fundraisers to help offset the cost.

They will stop by Arlington National Cemetery and the Museum of Natural History, and even attend an inaugural dance.

Though controversy has followed Election Day, Texas history teacher Ismael Perez has used it as a teachable moment.

"The Electoral College, which they learned about, we had a clear winner at the end," he said.

The highlight for these young learners will be on Friday, watching Donald Trump make history as our nation’s 45th president.