Pendleton student prepares for trip to Washington, DC
Ryan Montgomery
A Pendleton High School student is preparing to head to Washington, DC to learn about the federal government, and even meet with President Obama.
Last school year, Ryan Montgomery applied for a spot in the U.S. Senate Youth Program, but didn't quite make the cut.
But this school year is a different story.
The senior class president will soon travel to the country's capital to learn how he can make America a better place.
Pendleton High School senior Ryan Montgomery was sitting in calculus class last fall, when he got a much anticipated cell phone call from the state capital in Salem, Oregon.
"I told my teacher that I need to be excused, I need to answer the phone. And so I went out of the classroom and answered it and I was so speechless, I couldn't function" said Montgomery.
The 17 year-old was accepted into the U.S. Senate Youth Program
He's one of just over 100 students from across country who will be heading to Washington, DC in March for a week-long, interactive look at American government.
"We're going to the CIA, we're going to the White House to meet President Barack Obama. We're going to a working lunch with all the senators" said Montgomery.
Montgomery is the first Pendleton student to ever get accepted into this program.
Teachers say the award doesn't only have significance for him, it also helps put Pendleton on the map and can help inspire other students.
"It really opens the doors for helping the next group of kids coming through. So that they can see success that they wouldn't be the first one to try it" said David Lange, Pendleton High School advisor.
Montgomery says he hopes his trip to DC will also help inspire other students to be more informed and more active in politics and public policy.
"That's one of the biggest things in life is to be a knowledgeable citizen. Because I personally don't want people voting for a politician and not being not knowledgeable" said Montgomery.
Montgomery says when he returns, he hopes to lead by example, so he and those around him can help create a stronger America.
"I'm just a 17 year-old in rural Oregon, in Pendleton. And I can make a difference, so everyone else can too" said Montgomery.
Montgomery plans to attend Brigham Young University next fall.
He says he wants to study either medicine or law and politics.
Montgomery is also receiving $5,000 in scholarship money toward his college education.