![History teacher Mark Westpfahl brought some of his Capitol Hill Magnet School, St. Paul, students to LaCrosse, WI to hear President Obama speak today. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Thursday, July 2, 2015 President Barack Obama visited University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he discussed the minimum wage.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/V4T7YSI3Q5QUAHDPJNH2YZ2CKM.jpg?&w=1080)
By Marcus E. Howard
Mark Westpfahl, a teacher at St. Paul's Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School, wasn't expecting to get a phone call two days ago from the White House. But after seeing Obama in Minnesota in February, a White House aide asked if he wanted to bring three students to hear Obama speak in La Crosse, Wis. The difficult part for the history and social studies teacher? Choosing which students to take.
He selected Calvin Boone, 13, Georgia-Rae Plathe, 11, and Sylvie Chaput, 13, because they are among the "most inquisitive in the school," Westpfahl said.
In February, Westpfahl, his 10-year-old daughter, Grace, and some of his students got to meet the president. Those he brought on Thursday are hoping for the same opportunity and brought questions, just in case.
"I want to ask him, 'Do you think money designated for education could be spent better,'" said Georgia-Rae. Sylvie said she would ask Obama why he thinks the economic recovery has been better in Minnesota than in Wisconsin.
Calvin, who rushed from his parents' cabin in northern Minnesota to attend, said he would ask whether more White House plans are in store for LGBT people. Whether or not they meet the 44th president, either way, it's "pretty cool," Calvin said.
