Inauguration

I just read in the Meteor that my cousin Terri's daughter (gosh, doesn't she look like her mother?) will be attending the inauguration in a couple of weeks. What an exciting thing for her to get to do!

http://madisonvillemeteor.com/articles/2009/01/07/news/news09.txt

Here's the article in case the link goes away:

Bryan girl with local ties invited to presidential inauguration

Jacee Wren

Published: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 5:09 PM CST

Jacee Wren, 13, of Bryan, has been invited to attend the Junior Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference in Washington, D.C.

She will witness the 44th President's Oath, view the inaugural parade as the President and Vice President travel down Pennsylvania Avenue and attend a Gala Inaugural Ball along with numerous other scheduled events. Jacee expressed her excitement and pride in being chosen for the honor.

“I’m excited to be a teenage representing Brazos Valley,” she said.

“We received the invitation in May,” said Jacee’s mother, Terri Wren. “At that time, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were still neck-and-neck, so we didn’t know whom the candidate would be. Because Jacee received the invitation, she listened more and was more interested in the race. It sparked her interest because she knew she would be there.” This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Jacee.”

Colin Powell will be the keynote speaker opening this year’s conference. Held every four years in January following the presidential election, the Junior Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (JrPYIC) provides inaugural scholars with a unique experience as they take part in and share firsthand in the excitement and ceremony of the inauguration of the President and Vice President of the United States.

Jacee attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in August 2007 when she was still in sixth grade.

Her counselors at the time said she was such an overachiever they wanted her to return. Consequently, Jacee was nominated to attend the inauguration conference by her social studies teacher, Martha Barron.

Because of Jacee’s status as an honored alumna, she was selected to represent College Station in the inaugural conference. She flies to Washington, D.C. on Friday, Jan. 16, accompanied by her mother and grandmother and will return home on Thursday, Jan. 22.

Jacee Wren is the daughter of Ralph and Terri Wren of Bryan, and granddaughter of Joyce and Jerry Dyer of Bedias, and Nora and Nolan Wren of lola.