CHARLESTON, SC (12/11/2012)(readMedia)-- Angel M. Johnson of Hanahan, S.C., was among 24 Citadel students who recently traveled to Washington, D.C., where they met with some of the nation's foremost Congressional leaders.
Johnson is a senior and history major. She currently serves as the regimental public affairs officer, working as a liaison between the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and the college's External Affairs Office. Johnson will be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force when she graduates in 2013.
Organized by Mallory Factor, the college's John C. West Professor of International Politics and American Government, the trip to the nation's U.S. Capitol gave the cadets, active duty and veteran students the opportunity to meet and talk to members of the U.S. House and Senate. The Center for American Progress provided a breakfast panel discussion and the Heritage Foundation hosted the students for an evening reception.
"Mallory put together an impressive group of legislators for our students to meet and spend time with. We were all impressed and appreciative of the opportunity to talk about leadership and many of the issues facing our country with the men and women who are helping lead the way," said Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa, who made the trip with the students.
Among the legislators who spent time with the students were members of the South Carolina delegation: Sens. Lindsay Graham and Jim DeMint and Reps. James Clyburn, Tim Scott and Joe Wilson. The students also heard from Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, John McCain of Arizona, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Richard Shelby of Alabama and Mike Lee of Utah. Lee introduced the students to Texas Sen.-Elect Ted Cruz. Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio participated as did Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Jack Kingston of Georgia, Steve King of Iowa and Allen West and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky hosted the students for lunch.
The Citadel, founded in 1842, is a public, coeducational military college in Charleston, S.C., that offers a classic military education for young men and women seeking a college experience that is meaningful and academically strong. With the core values of honor, duty and respect, The Citadel prepares principled leaders for the military as well as the global workplace.