Young leader to attend inauguration

By Lauren Radomski | The Daily Journal

Published 12:00 p.m., January 7, 2009

Carrie Beithon says her 15-year-old son, Erik Vergiels, has always been into politics.

When he redecorated his room several years ago, Vergiels painted it red in favor of his preferred political party. When the family was deciding on a travel destination in 2007, Vergiels chose Washington, D.C.

“He’s always been passionate about politics — it’s the way he is,” said Beithon, who describes both Vergiels and his brother, Steven, 17, as history buffs.

Now Vergiels is preparing to attend an event for the history books: the inauguration of the first African American president.

Vergiels, a sophomore at Fergus Falls High School, will visit Washington, D.C., Jan. 17-21 as part of the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (PYIC), a leadership training event for about 7,000 students from around the country. Participants will watch the inaugural swearing-in and parade, explore historic sites and listen to keynote speakers including former secretary of state Gen. Colin Powell and former vice president Al Gore.

Vergiels’ journey to the inauguration started in 2006 when a teacher, Paul Talley, nominated him to participate in the National Young Leaders State Conference, a four-day leadership event in the Twin Cities sponsored by the same group organizing the PYIC.

Talley, an industrial technology teacher, said he usually nominates a few students for the conference each year. He saw something special in Vergiels.

“It seems like he’s always questioning how things work,” said Talley, who recalls debates among Vergiels and fellow students in class. “He had a lot of thought in what he would say.”

Vergiels’ attendance at the December 2006 state conference put him in the running for future leadership events. In February, Vergiels received an invitation to attend the PYIC. By March, he’d decided to go.

Vergiels said he was a Rudy Giuliani supporter before deciding to back John McCain in the presidential election. His candidate may not have won, but Vergiels said he recognizes the historical significance of the inauguration.

“I know I have to support the next president and there’s nothing I could do about (the election),” he said. “I couldn’t vote.”

Vergiels’ passion for politics isn’t altogether surprising considering his family’s political history. His maternal grandfather, Paul Beithon, was mayor of Wahpeton in the 1970s. His paternal grandfather, John Vergiels, served as majority leader in the Nevada Senate. Vergiels’ father, stepmother, stepsister, half sister and grandparents currently live in Nevada.

Family and friends helped Vergiels pay for the $3,000 inaugural trip by contributing items to a garage sale at St. James Episcopal Church in September. He’s also received monetary donations.

If Vergiels gets his way, he’ll be at another inauguration in the future: his own. He said he’d like to be president, but can also see himself in local or state government positions.

“You can’t just start at running for president and some roads are longer than others,” he said

Plus, he’s got a lot of interests: He plays tennis and football and participated in the fall play, “Sherlock Holmes.”

Vergiels knows several people in the school’s marching band, one of whom is his cousin. He plans to pack a gold Otter hankie to wave above the crowd during the inaugural parade.

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