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Two NMI scholars take front seat in Obama inauguration
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Posted on Jan 20 2009
Christina Ta, who is currently in Washington, D.C., has been exchanging messages with her mother on Saipan on an almost per hour basis to update her about what’s going on at the inaugural ceremonies of President Barrack Obama.
The 20-year-old Ta is one of two CNMI scholars of the University Presidential Inaugural Conference who have been given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend the inauguration. The other is Marie Camacho.
During a visit to Annette Ta’s office yesterday, both mother and daughter were chatting over the Internet about the excitement building up in the nation’s capital.
The elder Ta said her five other children are very supportive of Christina. All the other siblings are in the U.S. for studies.
“We are proud of her. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” said her father, Ta Bun Kuy, who owns Dollar Days Wholesale.
Ta and Camacho will be honored for five days in Washington, D.C. and attend a black-tie Inaugural Ball and other activities surrounding the historic event.
Ta and Camacho are joined by other students from across America who have the opportunity to interact with the presidential candidates, White House officials, congressional staff members, political experts, and other VIPs.
Ta and Camacho were selected last year based on their leadership skills, which they demonstrated during the National Youth Leadership Forum at the University of California-Berkeley.
The UPIC provided scholars with a deeper understanding of the history behind the electoral process and the rich traditions surrounding the presidential inauguration.
Ta and Camacho were roommates during the conference.
Ta is now in her second year at the University of California-Los Angeles taking up Medicine.
