Anticipating the president

GREEN BAY - As last minute touches were put in place for the president's visit to Green Bay Southwest High school, hundreds of people took their place at Southwest, to get tickets.

"I can probably compare it to winning a small, a jackpot on a gambling machine," said Aaron Stachovak of Manitowoc.

People applied for tickets, not all were chosen. Those who were selected, however, were happy about it.

"I'm just very excited....I can't wait," said Jennifer Seidel of Green Bay with a laugh.

Everyone FOX 11 spoke with got two tickets. Some are going as mother - daughter pairs, others are going with a sibling, one woman we spoke with was giving her ticket to the local democratic party, and some are taking friends.

"I want to take a picture of him!" exclaimed Sharon Harper of Green Bay.

Harper plans to attend with her daughter Shauna, a student at Southwest.

"I was shocked because I thought my mom was kidding when she said that, oh yeah, we got tickets!" said Shauna Harper, "This is life-changing, especially that we get the chance to actually see him."

Barb McEwen and her daughter Lynn were among the first to get tickets, and say they will be among the first to arrive at the event.

"There's just nothing like this," said McEwen, "Just to be able to see him in person and be in the same room with him and feel the atmosphere, that's what I want to do, feel the excitement of it. I'm looking forward to being here in person."

While people we spoke with know the event may make for a long day because of parking, shuttle busses, and waiting, they say it's worth it
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"This is president Barack Obama, he's in Green Bay, you can't really top that," said Lynn VanderWielen of Hazelhurst.

FOX 11 contacted the White House multiple times. We wanted to find out how many tickets were requested, and how many were given out. Our calls were not returned.