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Student Senate President Phillip Wages didn’t know when he signed

up to discuss small business opportunities with the White House

Youth Liaison that he would also be personally meeting President

Barack Obama.

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Student senate/government presidents of Wooster, Kent, Akron, Case

Western Reserve and Cleveland State were all in attendance for the

event at Cleveland State University Feb. 22, as well as many other

student leaders. The students knew that President Obama would be

there and would be giving the closing comments to the

meeting.

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“line-height: 120%;”>   “We

were not informed beforehand that we would personally meet

President Obama, so it was a surprise when he walked into the

room,” Wages said. “He came into the room, walked to each of us and

shook our hand, and then we had a picture taken…”

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Wages said meeting the president was a pleasant surprise and he was

excited.

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“line-height: 120%;”>   “I

cannot remember [my] first thought honestly, it was something of a

mixture between ‘What is going on?,’ ‘Not only do I get to be in

the same room with Obama, but I get to shake his hand’ and ‘I hope

I don’t do anything stupid,’” Wages said of the

experience.

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It’s hard to try and soak in everything being said when something

exciting happens, but Wages knows that he will always remember

Obama’s comments about America’s innovation and how it

distinguishes and separates the American people from other

countries. When asked if meeting Obama had changed any of Wages’

opinions of him, Wages said that he simply appreciated the

moment.

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“line-height: 120%;”>   “He

is the president, so it was an honor meeting him,” Wages said.

“Just like any politician, I don’t agree with everything he has

done, but I am confident in his actions and am proud to have him as

our president. It was refreshing to hear him speak of the

importance of our generation and the innovative nature of the

U.S.”

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