VECA Students Travel to Nation's Capital

VALDOSTA -- The classroom will come alive for eighth graders at the Valdosta Early College Academy (VECA), as they travel to Washington, D.C., and spend five days in the nation’s capital.

The group of 29 students, along with teachers Johnnie Marshall, Hilda Edgerton, and Matt Cribbs, left early Sunday morning to begin what will be an educational experience of a lifetime.

The tour begins at Gettysburg with a comprehensive study of the famous Civil War battle. The students will also visit the Capitol, National Archives, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

“Eighth grade students in Georgia study American history and specifically the Civil War period,” said Dr. Brian Gerber, VSU’s liaison to VECA. “This trip will not just focus on history but integrate all subjects including language arts, math and science. The trip gives the students a strong foundation in all subjects.”

The students spent last year preparing for the trip and conducting various fundraisers to pay their expenses, including the South Georgia Pecan holiday sale, which raised approximately $8,000.

“The community has been very supportive. VSU’s faculty, local businesses and many individuals have donated money to pay for the trip,” Gerber said. "It has been a community-wide effort to send the students on this educational trip.”

The students will journal about their experiences and excerpts, along with photos, will be posted on blog located at http://veca2dc.blogspot.com