Royal Oak Journalist Michigan Winner of Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship

Royal Oak High School senior Matthew Harmon was awarded the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship for high school journalists. (Photo by Maria Byrk)

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Royal Oak High School senior Matthew Harmon has earned the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship for his efforts as a student journalist. Matthew is the sixth Royal Oak Acorn Newsmagazine student to earn this national award.

One student from each state is chosen to receive the award and receives a $1,000 scholarship. Matthew joined other student journalists representing each state and the District of Columbia for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship and Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C. He was one of two students nominated by his fellow Free Spirit representatives to speak at the conference.

“Matthew demonstrates a remarkable level of passion to better our world through his efforts as a journalist,” said Acorn Newsmagazine Adviser Ann Maudlin. “He is incredibly goal-oriented, understands the value of experiential learning and is possessed with both an inquisitive spirit and a desire for truth. He is a leader we are proud of, and I’m so happy his peers from around the country recognized and honored that by choosing him to speak at the conference.”

The Free Spirit program began in 1999 and is funded by the Freedom Forum to honor Al Neuharth, the founder of USA TODAY. The conference is designed to assist students in pursuit of a journalism career and to inspire them through conference sessions with prominent media professionals.

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship and Journalism Conference program annually awards college scholarships to high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism and who demonstrate qualities of a “free spirit.”

The students come to Washington, D.C. to receive their awards and participate in a journalism conference at the Newseum, which culminates with attendance at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award ceremony.

Al Neuharth characterizes the essence of free spirit in this way: “Free spirits dream, dare and do.” A free spirit can also be a risk-taker, a visionary, an innovative leader, an entrepreneur, or a courageous achiever who accomplishes great things beyond his or her normal circumstances.