Paloma Valley Student Justin Fox Headed to Inauguration

Wednesday was a typical day for Justin Fox of Menifee. The 15-year-old Paloma Valley High School sophomore attended classes and took part in tennis practice after school. Then it was home for study time.

Next Monday will not be so typical for Justin. He will be in the audience at the inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.

Justin was the only local student among hundreds across the country invited to attend the High School Presidential Inaugural Conference. This is a five-day event in which students attend the inauguration and various workshops and trips dealing with the presidency and government matters.

In addition, Justin was one of a select few chosen to ask a question of General Wesley Clark during a keynote presentation Sunday that will also feature Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state.

"I was shocked at first," Justin said about his invitation to the inauguration and conference. "It's a great honor. I'll be able to see history in the making."

Justin is on the Honor Roll at Paloma Valley, a distinction given to students who maintain a 4.0 GPA or better. In less than two years of high school, he has already taken advanced placement courses in human geography and advanced English.

What is human geography, you ask?

"The study of what humans do and what their tendencies are," Justin said.

Justin was invited to the conference upon the recommendation of a teacher who worked with him at a student medical conference last summer. Justin is interested in becoming an orthodontist or physical therapist.

He also played on the junior varsity football team last fall.

"I'm going to take a lot of pictures and notes when General Clark and Condoleezza Rice are speaking," Justin said. "At the inauguration, I think I'll just sit back and watch. I kind of want to enjoy that."