Thousands of students, including 95 from The Mill, traveled to Washington, D.C., to learn about politics and government and to participate in the celebrations for the 57 presidential inauguration as part of the Close Up  program.

Throughout the week, students went on study visits to memorials such as the World War II, Vietnam, Korean War, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials. At these historic sites, students learned some of the behind-the-scenes information about the monuments’ placement and why certain quotes were chosen to be a part of the memorials.

Also throughout the week, students took part in the inaugural celebrations that  led up to the swearing in of Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and President Barack H. Obama, and concluded with an inaugural ball.