NATCHEZ — Last week Brandon Ayers was being fitted for his tuxedo, Tuesday he’ll be wearing it to a ball at the presidential inauguration.

While Ayers, 28, will be with millions of his fellow Americans at the inauguration festivities, the circumstances that got him there are unique.

“It was really just the luck of the draw,” Ayers said. “I was very lucky.”

Ayers simply won his way to the inauguration.

When he’s not at Copiah-Lincoln Community College studying welding, he’s at his job as a stocker as Hudson’s Dirt Cheap.

Ayers’ employer sponsored a drawing for a free trip to the inauguration.

So Ayers put his name in the hat — and he won.

Dirt Cheap’s CEO Rob Roberts said his company felt it was extremely important that some of its employees be able to witness the inauguration.

“It’s an historic event,” he Roberts said. “We saw it as very important to our nation’s history, and there’s no better way to learn about it than to witness it.”

An employee from the company’s Hattiesburg store was also selected from the drawing and will be headed to Washington with Ayers.

“I think it’s going to be great,” Ayers said.

Ayers said not only is he looking forward to the inauguration, but also he’s looking forward to visiting the nation’s capital.

Once at the inauguration, Ayers said he’s particularly interested to see what the new president will address in his speech.

He’s hoping to hear a plan for helping the housing market and the healthcare system.

And once Ayers and his traveling companion arrive in Washington, D.C., they won’t have anything to worry about.

Aside from souvenirs, Dirt Cheap is picking up the tab for everything, even the tux rental.

“I’m really blessed,” Ayers said.

And Ayers said he’s hoping the new president will be a blessing to the country as well.

While Roberts said the inauguration held special significance since Barack Obama is the first black president, Ayers said the country just needs a solid leader right now.

“We need a good charismatic leader,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if he’s black or not.”

And when Ayers gets to D.C., not only will he have millions of his fellow country to keep him company, several of them will be from Natchez.

Four students from Cathedral High School and a handful of other Natchez residents are also making the trip, including alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis.