Seeing sites and crooning tunes are part of Close Up trip to D.C.

Learning about politics, visiting memorials and even singing for Sen. Lisa Murkowski were all part of a recent trip four Wrangell students took to Washington, D.C.

The yearly Close Up program took Sarah Merritt, of the Wrangell Legislative Information Office, along with students Alisha Armstrong, Ander Edens, Sean McDonald and Spencer Petticrew to the nation's capital and New York City for 10 days at the end of April.

The purpose of the program is to expose students to the worlds of business and politics, and giving them a chance to connect with culture, policymakers and historical sites.

"Students gain a greater understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy and develop skills to carry out those rights and responsibilities," Merritt said. "They also learn how to listen and debate differing political and policy points of view with tolerance and respect."

Along with sightseeing in Washington, the students attended professional development workshops, networked with other students from around the country and met with Sens. Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Mary Peltola.

Edens, a music student, was put on the spot by Merritt who talked him into singing an impromptu performance of "America the Beautiful" for Murkowski, "bringing her to tears and receiving a loud clapping ovation from the crowd," Merritt said.

Each student took away something different from the trip, she said, which also took them to Arlington National Cemetery, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street and Broadway.

"Alisha Armstrong was very moved by sitting in Ford's Theatre where President Abraham Lincoln was shot, and (while watching) the show 'Shout, Sister, Shout! The Untold Story of Gospel and Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe,'" Merritt said.

In New York City, Petticrew's favorite site was the Metropolitan Museum of Art, McDonald's was being at the top of 30 Rockefeller Center, Edens enjoyed Times Square and Armstrong was impressed with Central Park.

Merritt said the four students reminded her of being with the characters from the TV sitcom "The Big Bang Theory."

"I took Sheldon, Bernadette, Leonard, Raj and Wolowitz," she joked. "Two kids were a combination of two of those characters. They got so excited over everything and that made me feel so good because this trip is my passion and I love sharing it with the kids."

This year was the smallest group Merritt has ever taken with her. The first year, she took five to get a feel for the trip, but the next year she had 20 in tow.

Students must raise funds to take the trip, which is around $2,500 per student. Merritt said she found the kids who put in the effort to raise the funds get more out of the trip.

Have any Close Up alumni from Wrangell ever been inspired to pursue a life in politics?

"I have students who have said that they were going to go into either economics or politics due to this trip and a few have that I know of," she said. "Even if they don't, it exposes them to so much in regard to entertainment and even food!"