Fifteen CHS students and two teachers were invited to attend the program, “I’m Every Women: The History of Women in Soul,” hosted by Michelle Obama in the White House March 6.

The event was part of the White House music series and featured a lesson the history of women in soul music, a question and answer session and performances by Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle and Janelle Monáe.

“It was an awe inspiring, incredible experience,” chaperone Nicole Van Tassell said. “The kids will remember it for a life time.”

Van Tassell chose eight students to go by hosting a poster contest for her third period students. The task was to create a poster about women in World War II. The posters were then voted on by the Social Studies department, and the winners got to go to the White House for the program. The other seven students who went were from Matthew Shilling’s classes. He took his two student aids and asked anyone who wanted to go to put their names in the hat and then chose four names.

For many, it was not just the unforgettable performances by the singers that made the day, but the greeting and talk from first lady Michelle Obama.

“It was amazing,” chaperone Matthew Shilling said. “I’ve been to the White House before on the tour but not 15 feet away from the first lady. Honored would be the best way to put it.”