Cheers of "Ready to go, fired up!" resounded within John Barley Multipurpose Activity Center at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Monday morning. A crowd of approximately 2,000 leapt to its feet in thunderous applause as Democratic Sen. Barack Obama entered the room and took his place in front of a banner bearing the words "Change we can believe in."

His aim for a fresh beginning was clear, and equally evident was the substantial number of teen voters who attended the event.

Manheim Township senior Valerie Koufadakis, 18, got up early Monday and believes it was worth the wait to get in the gym.

"It was definitely worth waiting three hours," she said. "It was a really good experience."

The gathering was to resemble a town hall meeting, according to www.barackobama.com. Although the relatively small setting did limit seating, it fostered a proximity that magnified the crowd's excitement.

"It was crazy," Connie Shen, 18, also a Manheim Township senior, said. "People were really into it."

Shen attended the Hillary Clinton rally at Millersville University on March 18, and believes that, in terms of enthusiasm and energy, the atmosphere at the Clinton event did not compare to that of Monday's event.

"It was really positive; nothing was negative, and that made it look like there's a lot of hope, and showed that we're ready for change," Wes Geisenberger, 17, of Manheim Township High School, said.

During the meeting, Obama attempted to prove just that. He spoke for approximately half an hour on policy and plan, then opened up the floor for a question-and-answer session.

"We've been in Iraq longer than World War I, World War II or the Civil War," Obama said. "We have an obligation to our troops … not just to keep grinding them into the ground."

"I like his stance on the war in Iraq," Erin Poplar, 18, said. "He wants to get out (of Iraq), and I appreciate that. Also, he was against the war initially."

Poplar also commended how Obama tagged his Iraq exit strategy with a definite deadline.

"(Clinton) didn't give an exact time as to when we (will end) the war," the Manheim Township senior said.

Obama also said he wants to establish a "specific plan" for the current health care system, which "is just not working."

"His health care plan was good, too," Poplar said, referring to Obama's stated goal to provide "comprehensive benefits" similar to those members of Congress have to citizens.

Obama focused heavily on economic issues and education, both of which are topics relevant to today's teen generation. He cited skyrocketing costs for health care, college education and gas as reasons why America's economy is "teetering on the brink of chaos."

The discussion about education yielded the most substantial response from the high school and college crowd.

"I don't know about you, but I think we should make college affordable for students," Obama said before one of the many enthused outcries from the audience.

He proposed a $4,000 American Opportunity Tax Credit for college students. This plan would allow students to perform 100 hours of community service per year to cover $4,000 of annual college tuition.

Koufadakis said she thinks the idea would be "difficult to put into action, but if it works, it's a great idea for all parties. … College is not affordable for all families, but it seems like we (students) don't have a future without it."

"That could be the difference between going to college and not going to college," Poplar said. "I'm all for the plan, because I'm going to college. I think it's an awesome idea, because it emphasizes the message in Obama's campaign of 'I'm your president, but I can only do so much.' It's great, because it would make people affect change."

While cheers, chants and applause indicated significant support, some undecided teens used this event simply to test the waters.

Shen attended Clinton's March rally and Monday's Obama town hall meeting because she "felt it would be cool to see both Democratic candidates.

"This election is so important, and I wanted to make sure I was well-informed," Shen said.

She plans to vote for Clinton in the primary and said she's excited to have reached the voting age.

Mackenzie Heidelmark, 19, said she is "a huge Hillary supporter," who attended the Obama event with her friends. "I am a Democrat," the Franklin & Marshall College student said, "and (Obama is) a celebrity. … I just like Hillary a lot more."

Geisenberger, a strong Obama supporter, also expressed excitement over the election. An "overall positive attitude and push toward change" motivates the Manheim Township junior's political affiliation.

"If (Obama is) in office, I can see Washington taking a different direction on policies," Geisenberger said. "That would move us toward a better future."

According to Obama, citizens' direct involvement in politics is necessary to achieve a better future.

"We are a self-reliant people," Obama said. He emphasized the fact that he does not take money from lobbyists because he believes Americans are "the agents of change. … Change doesn't happen from the top down, it happens from the bottom up."

Political support is given in the form of volunteer work, and many volunteers at the town meeting were young voters in high school and college. F&M graduate Rebecca Finch, 22, stayed in Pennsylvania after graduation to work on the Obama campaign.

"I was never very politically motivated until Barack Obama," she said.

Manheim Township graduate Ellison Smith, 19, is also an active volunteer. "I volunteer at the campaign headquarters," Smith said. He attended Monday's event "to experience Obama-mania."

"I'm excited," Smith said. "A lot of youth came out."

"As a teen, this will be my first time voting," Koufadakis said. "And it's really great that I'll be able to exercise that right."

E-mail: freestyle@lnpnews.com