Close Up 2026: A Lasting Impact on the Brotherhood
- Allan Tompkins
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
By Allan Tompkins
Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 6 of 2026, 16 upperclassmen Explorers ventured to the nation’s capital with AP U.S. History teacher Mr. Javier Hermida on the annual Close Up trip to visit historic landmarks and get a “close-up” view of how the U.S. government operates.
Being that the trip took place during a historic cold front across most of the country, after having arrived in the early afternoon on Sunday, most of the boys were already bundling up in 3-5 layers to battle the icy temperatures reaching highs of only 30º. In response to the wispy cold that froze everyone’s face in place, in true Columbus fashion, some of the seniors decided to purchase hot pink ski masks to protect themselves.
"It was cold in the morning and it got a bit warmer in the afternoon. The wind didn't help on those cold mornings," said senior Christopher Beceiro
While Sunday was, for the most part, a day of exploration meant to pass the time until the start of the Close Up program later that evening, the students were able to get a good feel for how the rest of the week was going to look by growing accustomed to the city. Once the program started at 7:45 that night, everyone split up into their assigned workshops where kids from California, Oklahoma, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and even Puerto Rico got to meet those whom they’d mostly be spending the rest of the trip with.
"Meeting people from across the U.S. was a very fun experience. Getting to know different cultures and points of view really showed me how big the U.S. is," said junior Eduardo Marin.
The next two days consisted of site visits to memorials such as those of Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin D. Roosevelt as well as war memorials like Vietnam and the Korean War which all displayed powerful messages. In between all of this sightseeing, workshops would often get together in what was known as “uptime” (opposite of downtime) where they’d be challenged to think politically through questions like: What rights are needed to ensure equality and promote the welfare of citizens? After students briefly discussed their opinions, the remaining time was used to get to know each other and bonds were quickly formed between members of different groups.
Particularly, many of the Columbus boys tapped into their Hispanic roots and easily found common ground with the funny and captivating Puerto Ricans. Aside from the uptime shared with each other in memorials and museums like the Smithsonian, back at the hotel, all of the 6 workshops began preparing for the highly anticipated Mock Congress that was to take place that Tuesday night.
In this event, each workshop was presented with a bill to which members agreed or disagreed with. After going through a preliminary debate, members were chosen to represent each side of the bill to the rest of the student body to which an audience was persuaded to either pass, kill or even amend the bill. In an enticing showdown between members of the same workshops, few bills were actually passed yet heated debates undoubtedly took place.
"I felt a sense of responsibility and with great responsibility comes great power," said senior Felix Gonzalez, one of the speakers chosen for the Mock Congress.
Wednesday was Capitol Hill Day and arguably one of the most fun days as all of the Columbus guys regrouped with Mr. Hermida to spend the morning and afternoon touring the Capitol and meeting with Florida representatives. The first stop was the Florida House on Capitol Hill which is considered the only state embassy in Washington D.C.
There, students met with federal lobbyist Omar Franco '83 and Chief of Staff for Mario Diaz-Balart, Cesar Gonzalez '93—both Columbus alumni. On top of the Chick-fil-a that was ordered for everyone, the experience at the Florida house truly felt welcoming and informative while placing a large emphasis on the power of the Columbus brotherhood that many of the boys strongly felt.
After the Florida House, the group met with Maria Salazar, the representative for Florida’s 27th congressional district, as well as with Carlos Gimenez, the representative for Florida’s 28th congressional district and another Columbus alumnus. While listening to what these representatives had to say was interesting, the overwhelming sense of community and reliability that they expressed was a key takeaway for many Columbus guys.
“It made me feel proud that people in such a high position were saying that Columbus meant so much to them and that they still cared about the school and us,” said junior Carlos Cosio.
When it came to the Columbus alumni, Gimenez claimed that whenever people asked what school he went to, despite him having certificates from Harvard, he always said Christopher Columbus High School. After meeting with the brotherhood-inspiring Congress members, the group explored the Library of Congress and witnessed the awe-inducing interior architecture of the Capitol building.
When asked about his favorite moment on Capitol Hill Day, Mr. Hermida said, “I really enjoyed seeing the Old Senate Building. After Eduardo Marin ('27) asked if Charles Sumner was beaten by Preston Brooks in one of the rooms—an event we discussed in class—the moment was so good I had to take a picture.”
After everyone regrouped with their workshops, Wednesday finished off with an interactive murdery mystery play at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts–a location that will be closed on July 4, 2026 for a 2-year renovation.
As the final day approached, the groups visited more impactful landmarks like the White House, 9/11 memorial and the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center, somewhat of an extension to the already breathtaking National Air & Space Museum in the heart of D.C.
The night ended with a final workshop followed by a farewell banquet where Columbus seniors Evan Martinez and Daniel Iglesias were chosen to represent 2 of the 6 workshops through two conclusive speeches. After the banquet finished, there was a dance that closed the night out and allowed for an extended curfew of 11:00 P.M. as opposed to the traditional 10:30 P.M. of the previous nights.
As the Explorers brought their suitcases down to the hotel lobby on Friday morning, there were mixed emotions of having to return to reality and say goodbye to friends who’d soon be hundreds of miles away while also emotions of deep appreciation for the trip and the bonds that were developed.
While these bonds have only been described as being between Columbus boys and the other students, the strongest bonds that were developed were really between each other. With half the members of the Columbus students not ever having seen each other prior to the trip and being that it was a small group of 16, just as Carlos Gimenez and Omar Franco emphasized the brotherhood, it was ultimately felt by those on the trip. Whether that bond is kept alive by a new nod or dap-up in the hallway, it’s one that is ingrained in the minds of all of those who were a part of this trip and one that will hopefully live on forever.
Special thanks to Mr. Hermida for dealing with every unexpected twist and turn that came his way. In the words of those who were on this trip: “Thank you, bro.”
Thank you, bro.