Bucks Teen 'Witnessed History' At State of Union Address: Mom

LEVITTOWN, PA —Hollie Woodard is enjoying the peace.

After watching the "State of the Union" address on Thursday night in which her son Jake was a special guest of U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Woodard headed home early from Washington, D.C., so her son could attend school.

"It's been such a whirlwind," she told Patch from her home in the Levittown section of Falls Township Friday. "I woke up at 5 a.m. and drove back."

Jake Woodard was chosen by Fitzpatrick for his advocacy work in promoting dyslexia and his efforts to provide aid to a man stricken on the side of a road just after Christmas.

The Pennsbury High School senior was seated in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda with Fitzpatrick as President Joe Biden delivered his hour-long "State of the Union" address to Congress and the nation.

"It was really an incredible experience," said Woodard, who served as her son's guest. "They were very gracious. It was very empowering and well-received. We got to witness history."

Her 18-year-old son attended Pennsbury High School for his first three years and then attended the school's cyber program for his senior year, graduating early, his mother said.

Jakes was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, his mother said.

Jake Woodard now attends a 10-week program at Bucks County Community College which teaches numerous different trades. That's why she made the trek back from Washington so quickly Friday morning.

Woodard said that she and Jake found out about Fitzpatrick's invitation a week before the "State of the Union" address. She had to rush to get her son a suit and make travel arrangements.

They received a private tour of the Capitol Thursday and also were put up in a hotel by the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

Woodard, whose son is a third-generation Levittown resident, said the state has made a "tremendous amount of movement" to get students in schools to read.

"Jake was blown away by the whole scene," his mother said, adding that he even met one of his favorite authors. "A high school senior attended the speech. That's pretty amazing."