Looks like tonight’s State of the Union (SOTU) address is going to be the Grammys of politics.
DETAILS: Guess Who? Which Special Guests Are Set To Join Michelle Obama At State Of The Union…
The White House has released a complete list of people expected to accompany First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in their box as they watch the SOTU address.
While early news reports revealed that the First Lady was inviting Apple CEO Tim Cook and even Hadiya Pendleton’s parents, we had no idea the list would be this extensive…and interesting.
The White House made sure to gather some of the most powerful people in the nation with everyday citizens, which makes for a polarizing but purposeful mix.
A governor?
A teacher from Sandy Hook Elementary School?
A gun victim and even a mayor?
Take a look to see the who’s who of Michelle Obama’s guest list.
Sergeant Sheena Adams, Team Advisor & Lead Instructor, Female Engagement Team
A native of Kauai, Hawaii, Sergeant Adams joined the Marine Corps in 2003 and attended recruit training in Parris Island, S.C. In 2010, Sergeant Adams joined the Female Engagement Team (FET) and was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from September 2010 to April 2011 in direct support of 1st Battalion 8th Marines in Musa Qal’eh District. Sergeant Adams received her Combat Action Ribbon and Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal and in September 2011 Sergeant Adams returned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Advisor Training Cell, as Team Advisor/Liaison and lead FET instructor, where she re-engineered the Period of Instruction for future FETs.
Because…GIRL POWER.
Alan Aleman, DREAM Student
Alan Aleman was born in Mexico City, Mexico. In high school, Alan watched his friends come of age – driving around town with their new licenses and earning some extra cash from their summer jobs at the mall. Although Alan knew he could not do those things because of his immigration status, he was determined to get a good education. Last year, when Alan heard the news that the Obama Administration was going to provide Deferred Action for undocumented youth like him to emerge from the shadows, he was one of the first to sign up. Alan was among the first people in Nevada to get approved. In that moment, Alan said, “I felt the fear vanish. I felt accepted.” Today, Alan is in his second year at the College of Southern Nevada. He’s studying to become a doctor and he hopes to join the Air Force.
Because immigration reform will be a key point in the SOTU address!
Jack Andraka, Winner of the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
Jack Andraka, 16, of North County High School, was awarded first place for his new method to detect pancreatic cancer at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2012, a program of Society for Science & the Public. Motivated by the death of his uncle due to pancreatic cancer, Jack created a simple dip-stick sensor based on diabetic test paper to test blood or urine to determine whether or not a patient has early-stage pancreatic cancer. His study resulted in over 90 percent accuracy and showed his patent-pending sensor to be 28 times faster, 28 times less expensive and over 100 times more sensitive than current tests.
Because it’s always about promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers!
Susan Bumgarner, Early Childhood Educator
Susan Bumgarner’s home state of Oklahoma is a national leader in providing access to high quality preschool for all children, and she has been an early educator in the Oklahoma system for more than twenty years. Susan was educated at the University of Oklahoma and influenced by family members who taught and studied there. Susan has written curriculum, trained Head Start teachers, taught infants and toddlers, and prepared parents by teaching Early Birds readiness class. In 1992 Susan began teaching pre-kindergarten at what is now Wilson Arts Integration Elementary School, a public school.
Because it’s ALWAYS about our future generations…
Deb Carey, Small Business Owner, New Glarus Brewing Company
Deborah Carey’s decision to start New Glarus Brewing Company was rooted in doing what was best for her family. As she worked on a business plan, her husband Dan, a master brewer, gathered the materials, grains and equipment needed for start-up. In 1993 they negotiated to rent a warehouse in New Glarus, exchanging the lease for stock in the New Glarus Brewing Company. They sold their home and raised $40,000 in seed money, but still needed more funding. Deborah pitched her story to local newspapers, and the media attention brought $200,000 from investors. In the early days, the couple worked hard to establish the brewery’s reputation for consistent quality beers and developed a very loyal customer base. Today, New Glarus Brewing Company has grown to 50 full-time employees, and registered growth in profits of 123 percent from 2007 to 2009, becoming Wisconsin’s number one micro-brewery relative to sales volume.
Because…it’s beer!
Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton and Nathaniel A. Pendleton Sr.
Cleopatra and Nathaniel’s daughter Hadiya Pendleton was murdered on January 29, 2013, when she was shot and killed in Harsh Park on Chicago’s South Side. Hadiya had participated in President Obama’s public inaugural celebration on January 21, 2013. She was an honor student and band majorette at King College Prep High School. First Lady Michelle Obama attended Hadiya’s memorial service on Saturday, February 6th.
The Pendletons will be there to support the President’s gun-control legislation. And because we will always remember Hadiya…
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple
Before being named CEO in August 2011, Tim was Apple’s Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for all of the
company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple’s Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.
And we all are team iPhone.
Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers (Avondale, AZ)
Marie Lopez Rogers served on the Avondale City Council for 14 years before being elected as the city’s first Latina Mayor in 2006. Growing up in migrant farm labor camps and picking cotton alongside her parents in fields where her City Hall now stands, Mayor Rogers never imagined that she would be guiding the transformation of the region. Mayor Rogers currently serves as Chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments.
Because it’s always about breaking barriers!
Kaitlin Roig, 1st Grade Teacher, Sandy Hook Elementary School
Kaitlin Roig has taught first grade for six years at Sandy Hook Elementary, and has always had a passion for education and working with children. She attended and received her Master’s degree from the NEAG School of Education at the University of Connecticut, where she was a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society, The Historical Honor Society, and the NEAG honor society. In addition to her teaching, Kaitlin also started a running club called Marathon Mondays for third and fourth grade students at Sandy Hook Elementary. She will be running the New York City Marathon this year.
Because Ms. Roig is a total hero! And we’ll never forget Sandy Hook…
Want more?
Here are some others that will join the First Lady and Biden tonight:
- Sergeant Carlos Evans, USMC Wounded Warrior
- Menchu de Luna Sanchez, Registered Nurse, NYU Langone Medical Center
- Bobak Ferdowsi, Flight Director, Mars Curiosity Rover
- Bradley Henning, Machinist, Atlas Machine and Supply
- Tracey Hepner, Co-Founder, Military Partners and Families Coalition
- Peter Hudson, Co-Founder and CEO, iTriage
- Governor John Kitzhaber (D-OR)
- Amanda E. McMillan, Pay Discrimination Victim
- Lee Maxwell, Graduate, Kirkwood Community College Wind Technician Program
- Lieutenant Brian Murphy (Oak Creek, WI)
- Lisa Richards, #My2K Participant
- Abby Schanfield, ACA Beneficiary
- Haile Thomas, Let’s Move! Champion
- Desiline Victor (Miami, FL)
AWESOME! We’ll be tuned in, what about you?
SOURCE: The White House
