Highland Senior Heads to Inauguration

Highland Regional High School's Mikhel Harrison will be in Washington, DC, Monday when President Obama takes the oath of office for his second term.

Harrison, 18, will not just attend the historic inauguration ceremony, though. He'll be volunteering with the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

"I'm super excited. I mean, I've been really waiting for this day," Harrison said Friday evening. "I mean...I was shocked—I'm still in a bit of shock—that I was chosen to do this."

The Highland senior volunteered with Obama for America in 2012. After Obama defeated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to win re-election in November, Harrison was one of about 50,000 people to apply to volunteer on the inaugural committee, and one of just 15,000 chosen for a position.

Harrison will be in Washington beginning Sunday and will stay in the nation's capital till at least Tuesday.

While he couldn't go into great detail about his role on Inauguration Day, Harrison was able to say he will be one of about 10 volunteers working with the U.S. Secret Service to lead the effort to get celebrities and dignitaries into and out of the inaugural balls, of which there are many scheduled.

Harrison has already met a few famous and very important people as a result of his service on the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Last Wednesday, he met former Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan during a training session.

Harrison is considering Rowan University, University of the Arts of Philadelphia and the University of Delaware. He plans to major in music education, but also hopes to study political science.

Gloucester Township Council honored Harrison in February 2012 in its Black History Month Celebration.

At the time, the Sicklerville resident was carrying a 3.4 GPA. He has participated in every music group Highland offers in his nearly four years there, as well as been a member of the school's track and field team.

Check back with Gloucester Township Patch later this week. We hope to share some of Harrison's photos from the inauguration.