Ronald Honka Jr., a freshman from Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, attended the 57th Presidential Inauguration and was selected for a photograph with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Honka was offered the opportunity because of his long-time membership in the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), which offers educational youth leadership conferences and programs to outstanding young people from across the country and around the world.

The high school freshman has been a member of the CYLC since the third grade and was thrilled to travel to Washington, D.C., for the Inauguration.

While in the Capitol, Honka visited the National Air and Space Museum.

The highlight of his trip was attending a speech Rice gave. It was during this event that he was chosen to take a photograph with the former secretary of state.

“It was very nice but also chaotic and cold,” he said. “There were more than 800,000 people assembled in the National Mall! I was very happy to be able to be a part of such an important day.”