Lily Lichner, St. Charles

Eleven-year-old Lily Lichner of St. Charles will attend the inauguration along with two friends as the result of participating in summer camps at Northern Illinois University through the National Young Scholars Program.

Nearly 3,000 students from the program will be at the inauguration. Lichner became a political junkie as soon as she learned she had the chance to attend the historic event. While in Washington, D.C., she'll also attend sessions between the students and Colin Powell and Al Gore.

The trip didn't come automatically, though. With her parents unemployed at the time she received her invite, Lichner had to earn the cash for the trip herself by working odd jobs around her neighborhood.

Mayor Al Larson, Schaumburg | Village President Catherine Melchert, Bartlett