The Times and Democrat
Claflin student will see State of Union up close
January 27, 2010
Claflin University sophomore Isaiah Jones recently renewed his acquaintance with U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint at a student leadership forum.
The two met about a year ago at a similar function.
Again they shook hands and had a short, friendly conversation. It was the kind of brief meet and greet that is an everyday routine in the life of a politician.
But something about Jones struck a chord with South Carolina’s junior senator. Last week, the Orangeburg student found out that DeMint invited him as a personal guest to hear President Barack Obama give his State of the Union address.
“To have a United States senator invite me somewhere is amazing,” Jones said. “Was it something I did or said?”
DeMint said Jones’ leadership and character set him apart from the crowd.
“His accomplishments are also a testament to Claflin University’s commitment to training South Carolina’s next generation of leaders. I’m honored to have the chance to present this promising young South Carolinian with the opportunity to observe first-hand one of the most significant moments in our political system – the coming together of the three branches of our federal government. I know Isaiah will learn a lot from this historic experience,” the South Carolina Republican said.
Jones will be sitting in the gallery only steps away from the people who shape everything from Social Security to foreign policy.
“At first, I was like, ‘Are you serious?’” he said.
Jones hopes the president will specifically address one topic: education in America.
Another topic of interest is how Obama will address health care reform in the wake of U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown’s upset victory in Massachusetts. He noted that could dramatically shift how the health care legislation moves forward.
“It will be a historic event if it is passed. It is definitely a challenge to pass such a bill,” Jones said.
As a student in the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College, Jones is involved in numerous extracurricular activities which include the United Way, Performing Acts of Education, the Claflin Debate Club, the Orangeburg Presbyterian Student Association and the university’s GEAR UP program, which encourages middle school students to seek higher education.
Jones’ mother, Rhemell, is a 1981 Claflin graduate, and his sister, Leah, is a junior majoring in human performance and recreation.
Last year, Jones was among the group of Claflin students who attended Obama’s historic inauguration. He recalled the tightly packed crowd and the uplifting mood then. Nearly a year later, Jones will listen to the president again – this time in a far more exclusive setting.
“It is a wonderful honor to represent Claflin at the State of the Union,” he said. “I am getting the rare chance to sit in the company of so many great men and women.”
