LAWRENCEVILLE -- For Kelsey Johnson, a Rider University student majoring in health care management, meeting Michelle Obama at the White House during her final week as first lady was an experience that "will never be forgotten."

On her way out of the White House, Johnson also got a chance to meet and pet Bo, the Obamas' famous White House dog.

Johnson, from the Sergeantsville section of Delaware Township in Hunterdon County, was invited to the White House after her team at Rider met the White House's "Healthy Campus Challenge" to launch a program encouraging students to sign up for health care under the Affordable Care Act.

One in three college students across the United States "don't have health insurance," said Johnson, 21, a junior at Rider in Lawrenceville. 

At Rider, Johnson worked with students including Evan Giguere, 22, a senior digital media major from Manasquan in Monmouth County, to create two public service announcements.

In a lighthearted, briskly-paced video, Johnson and other students talked about students' unhealthy eating habits and encouraged them to sign up for health care under the ACA before the open enrollment period ended on Jan. 31.

The effort was launched in September, before the presidential election, and out of 350 campuses that submitted entries, Rider was one of about 50 that met the challenge and won White House invitations, Johnson said.

Johnson said she learned of the upcoming visit when she received an email from a professor in January.

"She asked me if I wanted to go to the White House," Johnson recalled. "I feel blessed I was able to do it. It was a way cool experience."

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Johnson made the trip with Giguere and Boris Vilic, dean of the college of continuing studies.

"The White House didn't tell us what the agenda was," Johnson recalled. "I didn't know Michelle Obama would be there."

During the first half of the event on Jan. 13 for all the winning colleges, Johnson said, "We got an award saying we completed the challenge." Then Michelle Obama joined the group.

"She was an angelic figure when she walked in the room," Johnson said.

Michelle Obama spoke to the entire group during an open discussion, Johnson recalled.

"It was very emotional," Johnson said. "People were concerned about (Donald) Trump coming in" with plans to repeal the Affordable Carte Act enacted under President Barack Obama.

Michelle Obama "reassured us. She said 'we're not going to disappear' and that she and her husband would continue their work and "everything's going to be OK."

With Trump saying he plans to replace the ACA as well as repeal it, Johnson said she is hopeful that will work out well but is anxious to hear what Trump's specific plans are.

"I have family that uses Obamacare but before that didn't have health care," she said. "They used to be more optimistic about it. Now it's a mystery what will happen. You can't just repeal unless you have something better or of equal value."

As a health care management major, Johnson said, she has worked as an intern for the state Department Safirbet of Human Services as a research analyst trainee. In the future, she said, she may work for a government agency or for a hospital or a health care company. A health care manager "oversees the whole practice," she said.

After the group presentation, Johnson said, she spoke to Michelle Obama personally and made "some small talk," but didn't speak with her for long because "I didn't want to hog her."

Johnson said she asked the former first lady about her plans after leaving the White House and Mrs. Obama mentioned an "organization" that includes the new Obama Foundation in Chicago. "She said she's going to continue her efforts."

Evan Giguere, the digital media major, said he has worked in the health care field and was eager to get involved in the project.

"I can't advocate enough that college-age people should have health care, so there was no question for me to jump at the opportunity," he said in an email.

"It was truly humbling and inspiring meeting the former first lady," Giguere added. "She spoke to us about how important it is to keep fighting to keep America insured and healthy after the Obama administration, a sentiment that resonated massively with everyone in the room."

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