Students heading to Washington D.C. for presidential inauguration

ST. JOSEPH -- Some students are ready to witness history. They're going to Washington D.C. in January. On the itinerary, watching President Obama's inauguration.  

The trip is costing each student $1,800. They are holding fundraisers to bring that number down but some are looking for jobs to pay it off while others are giving up Christmas presents to go. It's because they say this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

"I said, 'I'm gonna just jump at this opportunity to see our nation's capitol,'" said Jonathon Arteaga. 

"I was immediately excited," said Sophie Plocher. Both are juniors at SJO High School and are anxiously awaiting for the new year.

"It's just this crazy, surreal experience that you never think you'll be able to see but I am going to see it. I just can't even fathom it," said Plocher. 

"It's truly a once in a lifetime experience to see such a good President getting inaugurated," said Arteaga. 

But that is only part of the trip. They will be in our nation's capitol for four days checking our museums and visiting museums and memorials. 

"I'm most looking forward to seeing the Smithsonian," said Arteaga. 

"I'm really excited about revisiting the Holocaust museum," said Plocher.  

The man behind the trip is Marshall Schacht. He is SJO's American History and Civic's teacher.  

"I'm happy to represent St. Joseph-Ogden High School as I go and we will bring back all sorts of stories and memories that they can talk about with their family and friends and I'm very proud of that as a teacher," said Schacht. 

This is the first time he's planned an event like this one but hopes it's not the last. 

"It'll be a bonding experience for the 14 students that are going with me that I'm sure none of us will forget," said Schacht. 

The students have another fundraiser coming up next month. They are setting up a booth at County Christmas in St. Joseph. The event is December 8, at 9 am at the American Legion Hall.