Over Presidents Day weekend this February, 75 Eastern students traveled to Washington, D.C., on a trip planned and led by the University Residential Outreach Council (UROC), a student-run social programming body for residence halls. The council provided transportation and lodging for the students, allowing them to fully experience the nation's capital.

During the trip, students came together to visit iconic monuments, immerse in Presidents Day festivities and walk around the city. Students explored some of the most historic landmarks in the city, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the U.S. Capitol and the United States Botanic Garden.

Eliza Odum, UROC president, shared her thoughts on the trip, stating, “I am thrilled to see the success of the UROC college trip to Washington, D.C. After months of planning, it was a great experience to see everyone have such a good time and enjoy all the sights and activities the city had to offer. From walking around with friends to visiting museums, the students had a blast exploring the city. As UROC president, it was truly rewarding to see our hard work pay off and to hear positive feedback from all the participants.”

Odum said the UROC spent many hours planning every detail, from finding the best hotel to arranging transportation. “It was a long process, but it was worth it to see everyone have such a great time,” she said. “My favorite part of the trip was exploring with my friend Jocelyn and being spontaneous, like ice-skating at the Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice-Skating Plaza and visiting the Museum of Illusions. I look forward to planning next year's trip and making it even more memorable for everyone involved."

One of the students, Malek Allari, recounted his experience during the trip: “This was such a great opportunity to explore Washington, D.C. I got to decompress from the semester and run about the city for a couple of days. I had a few favorite parts of the trip. The first was getting to visit the Smithsonian National Zoo and the Conservation Biology Institute. The zoo is one of the oldest in America, and I saw lions, tigers and an adorable blanket-wrapped orangutan. The second notable memory from this trip was using the incredible D.C. Metro. I was super impressed when I got off the Metro at Connecticut Ave. and started going up an incredibly steep escalator. The escalator felt like I was in a rocket preparing for lift-off!”