Video: Many Western Washington students attending inauguration

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EVERETT, Wash. - Students from several Western Washington schools are making plans to attend the presidential inauguration.

Melissa Webster teaches government classes at Cascade High School in Everett. She began organizing a trip to Washington DC for the presidential inauguration back in May, long before anyone knew who would be sworn in.

"I knew this election was about this generation," Webster said. "And that I could really capture their energy. And I knew I wanted to do something for the kids because the interest was there."

After months of closely following the election, 22 students will head to the Capitol to watch Barack Obama become the 44th president.

"It's something you will never experience again," student Candice Westerlund said. "And this is one thing I can actually tell my kids and their grandkids."

Senior Jeff Bender is one of a handful of students old enough to vote in this election. Even though his man didn't win, he says he's beyond excited to attend an inauguration the next generation of students will read about in their textbooks.

"It's cool," Bender said. "And it's really an awesome opportunity to be a part of it."

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High School student Candice Westerlund will attend the presidential inauguration.

It's pricey. Most students have spent months raising money to pay $2,000 each. Kaitie Brush organized a fundraiser concert.

"Working for it wasn't as difficult, knowing the reward I will eventually be getting from it," she said. "And it's all just leading up, making up the excitement just more and more."

The students won't know for another week whether or not they'll have tickets to be up close during the inauguration. But they say even if they don't, they're absolutely thrilled just to be part of the masses.

Another school headed east for the inauguration is Totem Middle School in Marysville. Forty-two seventh and eighth graders from that school also plan to attend.