BFA Fairfax Student Maxx McNall Meets The Press

Photo by JANET BONNEAU - Messenger Correspondent

Maxx McNall, a senior at BFA Fairfax, recently spent a week in Washington D.C. attending the Al Newbarth Free Spirit Scholarship and Conference Program. He is seen here sporting his Free Spirit Award Medal.

The St. Albans (Vt.) Messenger, Thursday, March 27, 2008

BFA Fairfax student meets the press

Wash. trip includes time with Russert

By JANET BONNEAU
Messenger Correspondent

FAIRFAX — When Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax (BFA) senior Maxx McNall traveled to Washington D.C. recently, it wasn't for the cherry blossoms. He was there as a free spirit journalist.

McNall was one of 102 high school students from across the US. chosen to attend the annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journalism Scholarship and Conference program held March 15-20.

Scholarship winners were awarded $1,000 each to the college of their choice and treated to an all-expense-paid conference at the Newseum, an interactive museum of news and media.

"It's an honor to be included among this group of students. i looked at the other students' resumes and it's pretty impressive. A lot of them have worked for newspapers and I haven't," McNall said.

Freedom Forum, a Washington D.C. based nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free speech and free press, established the award program in 1999 to honor its founder, Al Neuharth, also the founder of USA Today.

The freedomforum.org Web site states that the scholarships and conference program were designed to "assist and inspire students who are pursuing journalism careers" and to recognize "top high school journalism seniors who have demonstrated an interest in journalism and an abundance of free spirit."

Scholarship applicants were required to submit several writing samples, including an essay explaining their experiences or struggles that make them a free spirit. McNall chose to write about overcoming his initial depression and sadness when he was diagnosed with diabetes.

"There are some days when I wish that I could live a normal life, one without diabetes. But those days are highly overshadowed by the days of happiness that I am very grateful for, and much of the success I owe in the future will be due to the responsibilities obtained by learning to live with diabetes."
What emerges in his essay is the determination of a young man who embodies Neutharth's vision of free spirits to "dream, dare, and do" - and to "not only make great strides in their own lives, but make great differences in the lives of others."

McNall's parents, Karen and Glenn, were thrilled their son had the opportunity to meet others who shared his passion for journalism and to meet many leaders in the field. They hope his interest in sports journalism will translate into an economically feasible career.

"But if it is a passion, then how can one measure the happiness that would
accompany that particular career choice?" asked Glenn.

The conference featured numerous media tours and sessions led by noted broadcast and print journalists. Highlights included meeting with USA Today editor Ken Paulson, and a question and answer session with several USA Today reporters; a Stars and Stripes Program discussion with reporters just returning from Afghanistan and Iraq: and a conversation with Al Neuharth following the Al Neuharth Program.

The week ended with the 2008 Al Neuharth Free Spirit Awards ceremony. Students were expected to cover the conference and awards program as journalists, culminating in either writing an article or producing a media project for their school newspaper.

Asked to come up with a one sentence response to what being a free spirit means to him. McNall wrote: "A free spirit follows his own guidelines and does not succumb to the attractiveness of the, norm."

The high point of the conference for McNall was an open discussion with Tim Russert following an NBC taping of "Meet the Press."

"It was the most exciting part of the week. Russert's a really nice guy, very personable - he's a good interviewer and knows what to ask," said McNall.
Journalism has been McNall's top choice since he entered high school.

"I've always liked writing and I'm fairly opinionated. Journalism gives me the best chance to highlight my abilities as a person and express myself," McNall added. "I definitely want to be a sports writer, but my ultimate goal is to work as a broadcast journalist for ESPN."

And what makes a good journalist?

"You have to listen to people," said McNall, "to their tone of voice, their expression, and from there, gauge the person ... and make them comfortable."