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On Fri, Apr 17, 2015 at 2:59 PM, University of Alaska Fairbanks <uaf-distribution> wrote:

CORRECTION: Alaska 4-H’er meets President Obama

CONTACT: Debbie Carter, dscarter, 907-474-5406

Geneva Wright, a 4-H member from Tanana, met with President Obama in the Oval Office Monday as part of an eight-member 4-H contingent from rural communities around the country.

The students were asked to make a short presentation to the president. A blog post by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who also met with the students, noted “each one of them had an inspiring story about how they are opening new doors for kids in their hometowns, and how this work is building stronger communities where they can learn, play and grow.”

Speaking by phone from Washington, D.C., Wright said she was nervous meeting the president. She led the line of youth to the Oval Office and was surprised when the president himself opened the door. They got photographs taken with the president and he asked about rural poverty, she said.

Wright said she talked about speaking out in Alaska and nationally about domestic violence and rape and how, she said, “I found my voice with 4-H.”

Wright, 18, has been active in 4-H for more than four years and is Koyukon Athabascan. Her interests include playing basketball, going to fish camp and public speaking. A high school senior, she plans to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the fall.

Tanana is a village of about 250 residents located near the confluence of the Yukon and Tanana rivers, 125 miles west of Fairbanks.

4-H is a national youth development program sponsored by Cooperative Extension Service offices, including UAF’s.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Mara Bacsujlaky, mcbacsujlaky

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of Wright and Wright with the president may be downloaded at http://news.uaf.edu/alaska-4-meets-president-obama/

CORRECTION: Please note corrected Vilsack quote in second paragraph.

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