Most people go their whole lives without meeting a head of state. At the tender age of 17, Troy Uentillie has been introduced to the national press corps by one.

Uentillie, a student at Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, Calif., had participated in listening sessions for President Barack Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative.

On Feb. 22, the White House flew him to Washington, D.C., to stand beside the president with several other dignitaries as Obama introduced the initiative to the press.

What's the president like in person?

"Very tall," Uentillie said.

You can see a video of the conference at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdqyV_qh9qY. It's impossible to miss Uentillie in his red vest and turquoise jewelry.

Before the conference, Uentillie and others were briefed on the initiative by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

"He basically said that, even with budget cuts, the president is committed to funding this initiative," Uentillie said.

During the press conference, Obama said he would establish a Conservation Service Corps to encourage young people to work in the outdoors, and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund for only the third time in our history, using oil and gas revenues.

"If you take something out of the earth, you've got to put something back," Obama said. "Preserving the great outdoors for our children and their children, that's our responsibility."