Teenager Wins Essay Contest To Meet Obama At NAACP Gala

From The New York Daily News

President Obamawill bring his inspirational message of change toNew Yorktoday when he delivers the keynote speech at theNAACPgala.

And a lower East Side teen, who dreams of being the city’s first female African-American mayor, will be there soaking up his every word – and hoping to finally meet her idol.

Shaquana Gardner, 19, spent Wednesday putting the finishing touches to her outfit for the lavish black-tie gala at the New York Hilton.

She had her nails done and took her gown to the tailor, and is still pinching herself that her essay about being a first-generation college student from a poor single-parent family scored her a ticket to the coveted event.
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55 Photos To Make You Miss The Obamas

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55 Photos To Make You Miss The Obamas

1. Barack gives daughter Malia a kiss

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2. Michelle and Barack tell the kids a story

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3. Michelle and Barack Kiss

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4. Michelle and Barack

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5. First Family Portrait

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6. Two Terms

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7. Michelle and Barack host a State Dinner

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8. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama

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9. The Obamas on Air Force One

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10. The First Family in London

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11. First Lady Michelle Obama with daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama

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12. Sasha and Malia Obama at the 2016 State Dinner

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13. Turkey Pardoning

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14. Sunday Church

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15. Gobble, Gobble

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16. Malia Obama, the First Daughter

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17. Barack Obama and his daughter Malia Obama

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18. Team Obama

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19. A Family Affair

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20. Flashback To The Old Days

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21. Happy Birthday!

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22. Candidly Awesome

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23. Historic First Family

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24. Ice Cream Treat

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25. TV Time

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26. Playing In The Oval Office

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27. Always Giving Back

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28. A Christmas Story

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29. Hawaii Trip!

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30. Obama Loves Team USA & His Wife

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31. Malia and Sasha Obama

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32. Michelle Plays on a Bike

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33. Obama Loves Team USA, His Wife & Malia

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34. Reading Time

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35. Family Support

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36. The Sister Selfie

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37. Supporting Mom

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38. Giving Back On MLK Day

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39. Obamas Give Back To The Community

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40. Always Supporting Small Businesses

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41. Obama Swagger

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42. Laughs & Turkeys

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43. Christmas With The Obamas

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44. 50th Anniversary Of March On Selma

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45. Christmas Tree Lighting

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55 Photos To Make You Miss The Obamas