THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701190072
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 72 lines
Seventeen-year-old football standout Trey Freeman - all 6 feet 3 inches and 290 pounds of him - said he often gets that look.
``People look at me like I'm just another football player until they start to talk to me, and then you should see the expression on their faces.
``They're shocked when they realize I have something upstairs.''
A lot upstairs.
Trey, an honor-roll student at the Chesapeake campus of Atlantic Shores Christian School, and an All-State defensive tackle, is one of about 68 students who will attend the presidential inauguration Monday as part of the Presidential Classroom, a program designed to give student leaders a firsthand look at the workings of government.
The Presidential Classroom started in 1968 to prepare standout high school juniors and seniors for leadership roles by introducing them to members of Congress, presidential appointees, and journalists to give them an insider's look at government. Only students with at least a ``B'' average or who rank in the top 25 percent of their class are considered, and they must be nominated by a school official. Students apply by writing an essay.
The Classroom is a year-round program and Trey, who lived in San Diego until his family moved to Norfolk in September, was one of 12 students picked out of 400 applicants early last year. Trey attended a weeklong session during the summer and was again selected after being invited to apply for a spot in the Classroom's special inaugural program, which runs during this week's events.
Trey left for Washington on Friday and will spend seven days juggling tours of the nation's capital with seminars on issues related to the presidency. He's looking forward to debates on international and domestic issues such as welfare reform, the environment and human rights.
``I enjoyed the summer session so much I thought I'd have a similar experience with this one,'' Trey said.
``I got a chance to meet Janet Reno and officials with the FBI. . . . With the discussion between the teen-agers, I got to see what other teens from around the country thought about certain issues. That was exciting.''
And, of course, he's looking forward to hobnobbing at the inauguration.
``The highlight would be seeing the president,'' Trey said. ``To meet him and shake his hand, if I get the chance.''
Trey's trip to Washington is one in a long line of accomplishments by the student called ``a remarkable young man,'' by Charmaine Petherick, manager of admissions for the Presidential Classroom, based in Arlington.
``He definitely has that charisma.''
Last year, Trey was selected by the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, an international group that aims to develop leadership skills in high school students, as an outstanding sophomore leader. He attended the HOBY national conference at Rice University in Houston last summer and has been invited to international conferences in Hong Kong and China this summer.
While Trey attended school in San Diego, he was junior class president at his high school and captain of the debate team.
He's become a member of the Chesapeake Leadership Forum, which brings teen-agers together monthly to discuss current issues and events, and he was January's student of the month for his school.
Trey said there's more to being a leader than getting good grades and making game-saving plays on the football field, however. He's spent past summers as a volunteer counselor with the YMCA and spent about two weeks in El Salvador last April on a church mission.
``I toured various projects to get a perspective of the life there,'' Trey said. ``I saw the poverty there. It's just amazing how they are able to live with the poverty.''
Trey's mom, Algeania Freeman, said she's proud of her once-shy son.
``I've seen him evolve,'' she said. ``And we're still working with him so that he can develop into a fine human being.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Trey Freeman is an honor-roll student and All-State football player.