Local youth to attend inauguration

Local youth to attend Presidential Inauguration

By Richard Kendall


LAKESVILLE – When Barrack Obama is inaugurated as the President of the United States, 16 year old Cody Paul of Lakesville will witness the event in person.
“I really wanted to attend this event because I knew it was history in the making,” he said at his home this week.
Beginning on January 17, Cody will take part in a 4 day trip to Washington, D.C. through the Presidential Inaugural Youth Conference. Approximately 200 youth from across the nation will take part in the conference.
Through his scholastic achievement, Cody has attended 2 previous National Youth Leadership Conferences, starting in 8th grade and a several day event in Washington, D.C. The following year, he attended a 6 day conference in Boston. Last year, he attended the conference in Vienna, Va.
Cody Paul’s scholastic achievements are not a new development. He has maintained very close to a 4.0 average throughout high school and became interested in math early on.
In 7th grade, he took Algebra I, in 8th grade, Algebra II. In 9th grade, Geometry led him to take Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus in 10th grade. This year, he is one of only a few juniors taking Calculus.
Following college, Cody Paul hopes to become a Certified Public Accountant.
“I also want to work the water, with my brother” he added, referring to his older brother, Aaron.
During the trip to Washington, D.C. for the Inaugural events, the youth group will stay at a Northern Virginia hotel, close to the Nation’s Capital.
Cody’s mother, Cindy, and his father, Dwayne, are excited for Cody and proud of his accomplishments.
“One way or the other, this inauguration was going to make history,” Cindy Paul said. “Either Cody was going to see the first female become Vice President or else see the first African American become President.”
“He will be on the Capital steps to see the inauguration, and the see the parade, and then Cody will attend a Black Tie Gala,” Mrs. Paul added. For the gala event, a tuxedo is required.
None of this is free. In previous years, Cody has paid to attend the conferences from money he has earned working his turtle pots, according to his mother.
This year, the trip will cost approximately $2,000. Fortunately, Cody has secured several local sponsors who have helped with some of the expense. They are: Mulaney Insurance,
Bank of the Eastern Shore, Gootees Marina, P. L. Jones Boatyard, Russell Hall Seafood, King’s Island Pride, and Alternative Outfitters who are helping offset the cost of renting the tuxedo. Amy Nicholson, the New York filmmaker who produced “Muskrat Lovely” several years ago, helped Cody Paul too. (Cindy Paul was featured in the film along with a gathering of other local residents).
“Twenty or thirty years from now, I will be able to tell my grandchildren that I saw Barrack Obama become President,” Cody Paul predicted.