Congratulations to Providence junior, Mackenzie Mercer, on being selected as a National Youth Correspondent through the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University.  The conference only accepts 300 students nationwide who have been nominated or invited to represent their school. Students are invited by George Mason University on student interest and academic ability via college entrance exams such as SAT or ACT, or through data from NRCCUA (National Research Center for College and University Administrators), which conducts high school interest/career surveys. Students must be have a minimum 3.5 GPA; a demonstrated interest in journalism; and be willing to represent their school and state as a National Youth Correspondent.

The experiential portion of the program is complemented by speakers who are well-known leaders in the field. These presenters range from prominent journalists to CEOs of major media outlets, and from researchers to recent college graduates already successful in the field. Speakers will engage participants in discussions on the topics explored in the energy-charged role-playing experiences, taking the National Youth Correspondents far beyond a traditional classroom experience. The conference will also offer a handful of opportunities to take advantage of visiting the nation’s capital, with tours of the U.S. Capitol and the Smithsonian Museums.

On Thursday, John Rutherford met with Mackenzie in Washington to discuss his experience as Sheriff and his path to Congress! He enjoyed hearing about her experience in the program and her interest in pursuing a career in journalism and media.