Winners of Inaugural essay contest announced

[nuxvomica]

President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural committee this afternoon announced the winners of all-access, all-expenses paid trips to Washington for all the hoopla.

The ten winners of the quasi-lottery include a firefighter who joined the New York City Fire Department after the Sept. 11 attacks, a member of the United States Army whose husband is serving in Iraq, an inner-city school teacher in Baltimore, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, and a small business owner from California.

Hopefuls entered by donating to the inaugural committee, though there was a way to enter without giving money, then had to submit an essay on "What does this Inauguration mean to you?"

The "Ticket to History" winners are: William Tandey of Price, Utah; Bill Ferguson of Baltimore; James Bryan of Loganville, Ga.; Spirit Trickey-Rowan of Little Rock, Ark.; Aleia Jones of Chicago; Christopher Cuneen of the Bronx, N.Y.; Cynthia Russell of Newberry, Fla.; Stacy Freiwald of Coronado, Calif.; James Riviere of Arlington, Va.; and Amelia Nuñez of Long Beach, Calif.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/01/and_the_winners_1.html

edit: Not stated in the article but the prizes for the winning essayist and his or her guest include: airfare; two-nights stay in a precious, precious hotel room; seating among the dignitaries during the swearing-in; attendance at one of the official balls.

[AtomicKitten]

1. What a wonderful idea! It allows ordinary Americans to feel a part of this historic occasion.