Page 201 - 2017 yearbook

History in the Making By: Javier Arazoza & Eric Labrador

Traveling has always been a great long trip to Washington D.C. During the trip, different states. Students were paired with
way to learn while having fun, and the annual students were able to partake in a hands-on other students from all over the country as
Close Up trip to the nation’s capital is no experience with the government while roommates or partners.
exception. learning about the history of the country. “My favorite part of the trip was
Close Up was an organization that Many students believed that the probably interacting with different people
taught students from all around the country trip was valuable as it was a chance for them from around the country. I think that it’s pretty
about the rights and responsibilities of being a to try something new and get a first-hand cool to see how different, but also how similar
U.S. citizen and a member of the government. experience of the real life situations they learn we are,” said junior Carlos Lenis.
This program has been around since 1971, about in the classroom. Other than meeting new people,
and the school has participated in this The program also gave students students also had the chance to meet with
experience for the past 42 years. the opportunity to learn important life government officials and view historic
The Close Up program gave students lessons that could not be taught within the landmarks, most of them had only seen in
the opportunity to participate in a week- classroom, such as meeting new people from pictures.

Inside the Rayburn House Building, several of the school’s alumni talk to the juniors about their experiences when
they were in the school and how their lives were affected by their experiences there. The group of alumni who
participated were Roy Milan Schultheis ‘02, Eduardo Abascal ‘15, Manuel Vazquez ‘90, John Barsa ‘84 , Eddy
Acevedo ‘01, Captain James Burrows ‘01, Alex Burgos ‘98, Dr. Roland Diaz ‘87, and Alberto Martinez ‘97.

While saying a prayer, the junior class and faculty While paying their respects to the soldiers who In the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, students listen Overwhelmed with emotions, Social Studies teacher
reflect at the Eternal Flame. The Eternal Flame lost their lives in war, the junior class witnesses to their tour guide as she explains the architectural Mr. Patrick Collins receives a flag flown in an
represented the life of fallen President John F. the ceremonial “Changing of the Guard” at “The history of the Capitol. Behind the group was the Afghanistan Airbase from alumni Captain James
Kennedy, and it is the place where he, his wife, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier “ in Arlington painting of “General George Washington Resigning Burrows ‘01. Collins was also given a personal tour
and children were buried. National Cemetery. The ceremony was attended His Commission” by John Trumbull. of Joint Base Andrews by Captain Burrows.
by all the juniors in the Close Up Program.