WASHINGTON--A group of Harper High School students met with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle during a visit to the White House on Wednesday; Obama showed the students the original Emancipation Proclamation hanging in the Oval Office.

The group-- 14 boys and 10 girls-- all from the school at 6520 S. Wood the First Lady visited in April were at the White House as a result of an invitation issued by Mrs. Obama, a South Sider herself. The students came to Washington expecting to see Mrs. Obama; the Oval Office meeting with the president was a special addition.

Mrs. Obama wanted to visit the school in April because in the past year, students at the school have been touched by gun violence and the deaths of their classmates. At the time Mrs. Obama met with the Harper students last April, 29 current or former students have been shot in the past year; 8 of them died.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped round up the financing for the trip here, asking Chicago attorney Chuck Smith, a partner in the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP to donate himself--and round up other contributors to cover all the costs of the bus trip, hotel and meals.