Major volunteers as instructor in Presidential Classroom

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melanie Streeter
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  An Air Force officer was on hand when high-school students from around the nation met here recently to participate in the Presidential Classroom program.

Maj. Aurelia Carr-Olverson, chief of Air Force plans and programs staff services division, spent a week as a volunteer instructor for the nonpartisan civic education program.

“It was phenomenal,” Major Carr-Olverson said. “It was just such a great experience because the students were obviously the cream of the crop. They were definitely academically talented young people to be selected and brought in to the program.”

The Presidential Classroom program began in 1968, evolving from a variety of White House programs aimed at increasing civic awareness in young Americans, according to the program’s Web site. In recent years, many servicemembers have volunteered to act as teachers and mentors.

“All of our volunteer instructors contribute to the success of our student programs,” said Joe Rosica, Presidential Classroom communications director. “Whether they represent the Air Force, another military service, government agencies, [or] the private sector, all bring their experience and knowledge to the program for the benefit of our participants.”

Mr. Rosica said the term “instructor” does not go far enough in describing the roles volunteers serve.

“They are chaperones, mentors, guides, moderators and role models as well,” he said.

Playing all of these parts was a challenge for the major, who is also a mother of three boys, including an infant. Volunteering meant spending the week away from home because of the program’s packed schedule.

“We had to be at instructor’s orientation at 10:30 a.m. the Sunday the session began,” Major Carr-Olverson said. “The students arrived at 6:45 p.m., and we were running and running and running until 10:45 p.m. Then the next day we were up by 6 a.m. and on the go until 10:45 p.m. again.”

Those long days were filled with a variety of activities, from listening to civic leaders to touring Washington. These opportunities are what make the program so special.

“The students, in addition to learning about how our government works, get to know each other and themselves during their week in Washington,” Mr. Rosica said. “For some, this is their first experience away from home, maybe their first time traveling on a plane.”

For many more students, the classroom offers a first-time meeting with servicemembers, Mr. Rosica said.

“The result can be a long-lasting impression,” he said. “Students attending our program are all at the point where they are making decisions about their futures -- colleges, majors, career choices. Is a military career an option? Certainly our volunteer instructors can have a major influence on them.”

Major Carr-Olverson is learning the impression she left through e-mail from students. She said it was a rewarding experience, and one she would do again.

“But not this year,” she said. “It was extremely tiring!”