ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- This past presidential election was watched very closely even by those who couldn't vote.

"I think for the first time, this is for our kids in the high school, the juniors and seniors especially, that they can say they've understood all the issues, and they've understood all the events that went into it," Whitesboro social studies teacher Kevin Powers said.

On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump will officially become America's commander-in-chief -- an event high schoolers said they'll be able to truly appreciate for the first time.

"I was really hoping it would have been [Hillary] Clinton, but it's still going to be an amazing experience," Whitesboro High School Senior Christina Geddes said.

Instead of experiencing history in the classroom, students from Whitesboro and Holland Patent will be able to see it unfold right before their eyes.

"I think it's really interesting to be able to have the opportunity to be a part of history instead of just reading about it or going over lectures in class," said Geddes.

Nearly 100 students from the two school districts will leave early Thursday morning. Not only will they attend the inauguration, they'll also have the chance to explore Washington D.C.'s most historic sites. Four years ago, 24 students from Whitesboro took the same trip to see President Barack Obama sworn into office.

"It gives them the opportunity to be a firsthand witness to American history," Powers said.

"I think it will be amazing in the long run, to be able to tell my kids and my grandkids when they're learning about the presidential process in school and say, 'hey, I've been to the inauguration, I know what it's like and it's really cool,' " Geddes said.