Perspective comes from education and human experiences

While most young people are writing their English papers early in September on the topic, “What I did during my summer vacation,” Grace Miholic, a 17-year-old from New Iberia, will be constructing a journalistic account of the week’s activities as a Free Spirit Scholar in Washington D.C. The article is part of the requirements set forth in the scholarship that gave her an opportunity to expand her understanding of the First Amendment.

Miholic is the only Louisiana representative completing a week of intensive educational, tourism and social activities designed to lure high school seniors into journalism. One student was selected from each state plus the District of Columbia to become 51 Free Spirit Scholars gathering in Washington DC.

The annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference targets rising high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in journalism from applicants that demonstrate qualities of “free spirit.”

“We had to write a paper explaining why we believe we are a free spirit,” Grace Miholic said during an interview before her scheduled trip. Also included in her application package were articles she had written, essays about herself and letters of recommendation.

Students went to Washington D.C. June 16-21 to participate in an all-expenses-paid journalism conference at the Newseum and were awarded a $1,000 college scholarship. The Freedom Forum Institute program was established in 1999 to honor Al Neuharth, the founder of USA Today, Newseum and the Freedom Forum. One of the requirements for the scholarship was the commitment from the student to write an account of their experiences to be published in their high school newspaper or other published medium. The Daily Iberian has agreed to work with Miholic as editor and publisher of her article about the experience.

Among the events, during an agenda spanning more than 12 hours a day, were attending a taping of “Meet the Press,” a mock trial and session with a former U.S. Presidential press secretary. Miholic actively participated in the Q&A after seeing two Freedom Riders from the 1960s, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and Dr. Ernest “Rip” Patton. Readers will have to wait until her report is published this fall to learn more about her experiences and their answers.

Building Future Leaders

Education starts at home and the old adage holds true even today. Whether starting kindergarten and needing the basic disciplines to focus on learning the ABCs of reading or preparing for higher education — understanding things going on in a fast paced global economy is best achieved when good parenting is part of the equation. Michelle and Vincent Miholic have clearly spent time with their only child helping her to experience a broad range of influences.

“For the past two years I’ve been in a journalism class at St. Thomas More and we produce newspaper online and in print,” Grace Miholic said. “I read news online from big sources, not so much local, but (my mom reads the newspaper all the time. I look on every single source — Fox, CNN, MSNBC, ABC — wherever I can find different view points.”

Both of her parents are educators, Michelle Miholic teaches English at STM, Vincent Miholic is a training manager for the Division of Administration for the state of Louisiana under Jay Darden. They first moved to New Iberia when Miholic was one of the founding administrators at South Louisiana Community College.

“It’s kind of funny how we race to the news to see who has it first,” Vincent Miholic said. “(My wife and I) met at Southeastern but after moving here we decided to stay to raise Grace in New Iberia.”

Michelle Miholic said her husband listens to National Public Radio on the way to Baton Rouge each morning but with news being pushed to cell phones, the game of “breaking news” comes with a wide range of source options. She first learned about the Free Spirit Scholars when writing a recommendation for another student two years ago and hoped one day Grace would have the opportunity to attend.

“News has always been a big part of life whether we are watching it on TV or talking about it at school. It’s always been something I’ve been interested in — what’s going on in my world today,” Grace Miholic said. “I was a staff writer and managing editor this past year at school. Last year we published four newspapers during the year. ”

Expanding Horizons

Last summer Grace Miholic went on her first trip away from home. She spent five weeks in Nova Scotia speaking only French, a language at the time she was limited in vocabulary. Learning to love the language during class and hearing it often spoken in south Louisiana helped prepare her for the experience.

Counselors at the Université Sainte-Anne held students accountable to use only the French language they were there to master. Miholic said if they were overheard speaking English more than three times during free time as well as organized activities, they would be sent home. The rule forced all of the students to improve their language skills.

“I’ve done a lot and seen a lot,” Grace Miholic said.