Bulldog Blog: LM Students Meet the President

High school blogger Brady McHale brings the inside story from Lower Merion High School.

Some lucky Lower Merion students got a great surprise on a recent trip to our Nation’s Capital.

Last week members of Lower Merion’s high school newspaper, The Merionite, took a trip to Washington D.C. to learn about political journalism.

The student-run newspaper had set up meetings with journalism groups such as the non-profit media outlet the Center for Public Integrity, press aides for Senator Bob Casey and even members of the White House Press Corps. Never, however, was meeting the President on their agenda.

In the West Wing of the White House, the group of young journalists had planned on meeting and speaking with MSNBC analyst and correspondent for Newsweek magazine Richard Wolffe. As they sat listening to Wolfe they recall the door swinging open, and in walking the President of the United States, Barack Obama

“There was a collective intake of breathe as eighteen heads turned,” Leah Rosenbloom, editor of the paper wrote about the meeting.

Obama, while sporting his signature smile, asked the students where they were from. He jokingly added, “Now you guys have something to write about.”

As the group picked their jaws up off the floor one writer, Sivhan Barsade, congratulated the Prez on his historical signing of the health care reform bill.

Obama was short on time (go figure) and had to leave the room but on his way out he tapped adviser to the paper and my history teacher, Chad Henneberry, on the back encouraging the students to “keep up the good work.”

A few quick updates to previous blogs:

Congratulations to AJ Sheffrin who won the Mr. Lower Merion contest. Also, Harriton is on to the next round in the contest to have Jason Derulo sing at their school. You can vote at http://www.jasonderulo.com/page/in-my-school-contest.

As always fell free to email me with questions or comments.

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