Colton freshman tours D.C.

One of Colton’s own traveled to Washington D.C. last week for a week of touring the nation’s capital.

“I liked the Lincoln Memorial the most,” said Nick Niehenke, who was nominated by Colton science teacher Eric Nordquist for the national People to People World Leadership forum.

Nick, son of Pat and Debbie Niehenke, stayed in a hotel in Virginia with fellow attendees and commuted a half hour to the capital each day for sightseeing and classes.

After seeing the different monuments, he took classes that examined the strategies of national leaders during times of war or prosperity.

Niehenke paid his own way for the trip. His mother, Debbie, said she was leary of the program at first, but remembered back to several trips she took to D.C. in her youth.

“Once I looked into what the opportunity was, I knew it was a good chance for him to go take a trip like this,” Debbie said.

Niehenke said they toured the Arlington Cemetery, and saw the Liberty Bell when in Philadelphia.

Nordquist recommended the 14-year-old freshman for the program because of his “leadership potential,” said Debbie.

She describes her son as quiet, serious and hardworking.

Nick has been working for area farmers since he was 12, she said. He achieves good grades, she said.

The press release from People to People said he was awarded the honor “for outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.”