After the oaths are taken, the parades pass and the confetti falls, one Temple High School senior will have much to tell his classmates after this weekend.

Brian Slaybaugh left for Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the inauguration as part of a national organization's efforts to keep students abreast of the nation's political machine.

'We received pamphlet information from the organization in the mail, he applied, and the organization accepted,' said Dr. Becky Larson, a Temple High School government and economics instructor.

'(On) Saturday, he will be beside himself. He'll be on 'cloud nine' for two months,' she said.

After getting word that his application was approved, Brian began work on raising at least $700 to pay for his expenses to go to Washington.

'He was so excited and elated to have this opportunity,' said Brian's mother, Ms. Rita Slaybaugh.

Bryan wrote letters to area organizations and received $1,300 from the Temple and Morgan's Point VFWs and Temple's American Legion, she said.

'We were ecstatic and so happy for him to have this opportunity,' said Ms. Slaybaugh.

The national organization, whose name Dr. Larson could not recall, sponsored the Washington seminar.

Held each election year, the seminar allows students to spend a week learning about the campaign and seeing the Washington sites, which include the White House, the Smithsonian and all the congressional buildings.

Ms. Slaybaugh said Brian, who plays football and has been involved with the school's ROTC program, spurred an interest in the political process through his own personal involvement of going to the polls.

'This is the first election he could vote in so with the help of his government and economics class, he just stayed really aware of the progress of the race and what each candidate had to say,' Ms. Slaybaugh said.

She said the avid political mind and interest of Brian may one day lead him to pursue a career in politics.

'He's really found an interest in the political process, especially since now he can personally be involved in it.'

Ms. Slaybaugh said his teacher even suggested to him that he consider studying government in college.

'Brian's a hard worker and an outstanding young man, and this will be a wonderful experience for him,' Dr. Larson said.