Jan 20, 2009 7:20 pm US/Eastern
Barack Obama Elementary School Students Celebrate
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBS) ―
Perhaps no school in the country celebrated the inauguration of President Barack Obama with more enthusiasm than the 460 students of the newly renamed Barack Obama Elementary School in Hempstead, Long Island.
For Teonte Jackson who debated as Obama and won the mock presidential election at the school in November, Tuesday's inauguaration was especially poignant.
"It will go down in history," the elated student said.
Jalani Johnson was selected vice president for the mock debate, and proudly announced that fact on inauguration day. "I am also Joe Biden" he said. "I felt when
he became president, I accomplished something really great."
Since their election, managed by budding reporter Samantha Alburez, these three were instrumental in lobbying the school board for the name change, and have since filled their brains with inauguration day facts, as Samantha demonstrated.
When asked how long it will take the Bushes to move out and the Obamas to move in, she answered: Five. And when asked how many staff members handle the move, she said 100.
In honor of the president's daughters, a "First Family" cake was brought in by the principal. Although Jean Bligen had tickets to the real deal in D.C., she decided to share the experience with her students.
"I was just speechless. I don't even have the words to explain the feelings," Bligens aid. "It was remarkable. Absolutely remarkable."
The most amazing fact of the day to many of the students is that two children about their ages are sleeping in one of the 15 bedrooms in the presidential mansion they can now call home.
A renaming dedication is planned in Hempstead in February, when a new Barack Obama Elementary School sign will be unveiled.
President Obama has been invited, along with Governor Paterson, but both had yet to respond.
The school is about a mile from Hofstra University, where Obama and Sen. John McCain took part in the final presidential debate of the campaign. Students who followed the debates later suggested that their school be named for the new president, school officials said.
"I think that they renamed the school because they believe that Barack Obama was a great leader to many people such as myself," said fifth-grader Esta Thomas, 10, before the ceremony. "Because each of us in our school also want to grow up to be president one day."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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