Eight DeSoto High School students will be headed to Washington, D.C., to witness history.

The students, will travel on a luxury bus halfway across the country for President-elect Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration. They will depart Jan. 18.

"Most people actually don't actually get the chance or the opportunity to actually witness history up close," student Leonard Sowell said.

The students were invited by independent producer and director Eric Williams, who recently produced the documentary "Three-Fifths: Countdown to History."

During the three-day bus trip, the group will stop at other landmarks related to black history, including the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Each student will be equipped with a high-definition camera to document the trip.

"This is, to me, an educational and historical journey," Williams said. "Our game plan is to take them on this journey, let them document it, put it together and provide them with the necessities they need to do the job."

Junior Eddy Koehler said he is looking forward to interviewing people about watching the nation's first black president be sworn in to office.

Christina Seward said she knows she will share her memories of "actually being with all those people and learning new things" for decades.

The group will be joined by a disc jockey from radio station 97.9 The Beat, which will broadcast live.

The students' daily video blogs will be published on the radio station's Web site and on William's Web site.

Williams will screen "Three Fifths: Countdown to History"  at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Inspiring Body of Christ Church in Dallas.

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