NH Students Asked To Name White House Hawk
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS) – A group of New Hampshire students that gained national attention when their proposal to make the red-tailed hawk the state raptor was swiftly rejected by lawmakers has been presented a new opportunity thanks to the White House.
In March, students from the Lincoln Akerman School in Hampton Falls visited the New Hampshire House of Representatives to make their proposal.
Their pitch was rejected and along the way Rochester Rep. Warren Groen made an abortion reference while Rep. John Burt said "we'll be picking a state hot dog next."
According to a post this week on its blog, the White House said it is hoping to reward the students for their interest in government.
A red-tailed hawk has recently made the White House grounds its home, and officials want to give it a name.
So White House representatives reached out the Lincoln Akerman students and asked them to give the hawk a name.
"While New Hampshire is still without an official raptor, the students learned a more important lesson — one that goes beyond how a bill becomes a law," the White House blog reads.
The name picked by the New Hampshire students is expected to be announced later this week.