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Editor Jillian Rodriguez Receives National Journalism Award
 

Royal Oak High School Editor Jillian Rodriguez
Receives National Journalism Award

ROYAL OAK, MI. - Royal Oak High School Acorn Editor in Chief Jillian Rodriguez has received the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award, a distinction awarded to top student journalists throughout the United States. The Free Spirit Award is given to 102 high school seniors across the country (a male and female from each state and the District of Columbia), who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism and who demonstrate qualities of "free spirit". "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," according to Neuharth.

In addition to her work as editor of Acorn, Jillian also writes the Daily Tribune column "Student Voices" on behalf of the Save Our Youth Task Force.

This program began in 1999 and is funded by the Freedom Forum to honor Al Neuharth, the founder of USA TODAY and the Freedom Forum. Jillian will attend a conference in Washington D.C. March 16 -20, where she will meet the other recipients and attend informative sessions with prominent media professionals.  "This is an excellent opportunity for Jillian, and is certainly a positive reflection on our publications program and our school," said Ann Maudlin, Royal Oak High School Language Arts Teacher and Acorn Newsmagazine Adviser.

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