Students will have the opportunity to witness the 2009 presidential inauguration on a trip to Washington, D.C., next January but only if they act quickly and get a $500 deposit to Jaclyn Edwards, a U.S. History teacher at Paly, by tomorrow, April 1. Edwards said that if a student misses the deadline, he or she can contact her up until Friday to attempt to get a spot on the trip.

This is a rare opportunity to see a historic inauguration, which may include swearing in the first black man or white woman.

“It is an especially cool opportunity,” Edwards said. “You’ll get to see new leadership being sworn into office.”

During the trip, students will not only attend the inauguration on Tuesday, Jan. 20, but will also meet with members of Congress, attend concerts, dances, and debates with high school students from around the nation, and visit all the historic monuments D.C. has to offer.

The cost of the trip is $2,568 and includes hotel, airfare, meals, nurse and transportation. Students will leave Saturday, Jan. 17 and arrive back to Palo Alto on Friday, Jan. 23, according to the Close Up itinerary.

All classes missed for this trip will be excused Edwards said.

“There’s never been a student who did not enjoy their time on the trip and learned something new,” Edwards said.

Jenna Lose, a Paly junior who went on Edward’s annual trip during the 2007-2008 school year said it’s an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed by anyone.

“I loved it,” Lose said. “There were only eight people on the trip which surprised me. I was surprised more people didn’t know about it. It’s really cool. We met people from all over and it was really interesting.”

You can contact Edwards at her email, [email protected]. More information can be found at www.closeup.org.