Options For Youth Students To Attend 2017 Presidential Inauguration

20/01/2017 15:16

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Among the millions expected to descend on Washington, D.C. today, January 20^th for President-Elect Donald Trump's Presidential Inauguration will be thirty Options for Youth (OFY) Public Charter School students. As Trump is sworn in as the nation's 45^th president, OFY students from all over Southern California, including Victorville, San Bernardino and Burbank, will experience this historic event up close.

OFY is a free non-profit public charter school that provides underserved and at-risk students an alternative to traditional learning methods and environments. Many OFY students left their high schools because they found themselves unmotivated to attend or challenged to keep up with the pace, or were victims of bullying. For the past 30 years, OFY has helped tens of thousands of students find their passion in life and pursue their dreams.

Through what is referred to as experiential learning, OFY offers students opportunities to learn beyond the classroom with hands-on experiences that promote social and emotional growth. Many OFY students have never left their neighborhoods and with this program, are able to gain unique cultural perspectives otherwise unavailable.

"This event will be a great opportunity for our young people to learn about U.S. government, and perhaps inspire some of the bright political minds of tomorrow. We are very proud to have this group of students representing OFY," said Heather Clark, Experiential Learning Manager. As part of their assignments during the trip to the capital, students have been tasked with witnessing and reporting on the inauguration from the perspective of the media, such as a reporter, blogger or videographer.

While in D.C., students will be studying and analyzing historical figures and the impacts of their actions. Throughout the trip, they will be completing workbook activities and essays, and engaging in personal and group reflection about how history impacts their lives today. Some of the historical landmarks the students are expected to visit are the White House, Capitol Building, Supreme Court, Ford Theater, Mount Vernon, National Archives and various museums, monuments and memorials.

In addition to this free trip to Washington D.C., OFY offers national and international trips to places like Colorado, Cuba, Italy and China at no cost to the students or their families. OFY has seen the positive personal and academic effects experiential learning and for many, travel have on their students. The opportunity to visit places and experience events they have only read about in books, dramatically shifts their outlook on school and helps shape their future goals.

The students are spending six days and five nights in D.C., returning Saturday, January 21^st.

About Options for Youth (OFY)
OFY is a non-profit public charter school that serves students in grades 7-12 that have fallen behind or are seeking an alternative to the traditional school environment. For more information, visit www.ofy.org.