Freedom Forum Announces Scholars and Speakers for 2025 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference

51 High Schoolers Will Explore Journalism Career Paths with Top Media Experts and Newsroom Tours

Washington, D.C. — Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all, has selected 51 high school juniors to attend the 2025 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. Taking place from June 22 through June 27 in Washington, D.C., the prestigious journalism conference will feature inspiring sessions from top journalists and digital creators, newsroom tours and participation in Freedom Forum’s Free Expression Awards gala on June 25.

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference was established in 1999 to honor Al Neuharth, founder of Freedom Forum and USA TODAY. Every year, Freedom Forum selects one Free Spirit Scholar from every state and the District of Columbia who demonstrates a strong commitment to journalism and qualities that make them “free spirits.”  Each scholar receives a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the five-day conference. The goal of the conference is to inspire and encourage high school students to pursue journalism and media careers.

The skill-building, network-growing experience features interactive sessions with prominent media professionals, insider access to iconic newsrooms, connections with other high school journalists and ongoing support from Free Spirit alumni. To date, the program has produced more than 1,500 alumni including award-winning journalists from ABC News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Juggernaut and many others. This year’s agenda includes a variety of engaging sessions and activities designed to inspire and educate student journalists:

• A tour of USA TODAY headquarters and a panel discussion featuring Editor-in-Chief Caren Bohan and Executive Editor for News Toby Zakaria.
• A session on “Understanding First Amendment Basics and Countering Common Misconceptions,” hosted by Freedom Forum Vice President and First Amendment Expert Kevin Goldberg.
• A presentation by David Fahrenthold, investigative reporter for The New York Times.
• A panel discussion on “The Future of News: Innovating Journalism in the Digital Age,” featuring Heather Caygle of Punchbowl News, Leigh Ann Caldwell of Puck, Tina Nguyen of The Verge and Gen Z influencer Aaron Parnas.
• Visits to influential spaces such as Capitol Hill and The Wall Street Journal’s Washington bureau, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of journalism.

“Our goal is to empower the next generation of journalists. This year’s conference will inspire and educate students through sessions on the First Amendment and the role of a free press, presentations from esteemed Free Spirit alumni and career panels focused on media innovation,” said Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of Freedom Forum. “With the motto 'dream, dare, and do,' these Free Spirit Scholars possess the vision and courage to navigate the evolving media landscape and excel in their journalism careers.”

For the first time, this year's scholars will also attend Freedom Forum’s Free Expression Awards on June 25, 2025, which honors those who have championed or celebrated free expression and the First Amendment in ways that have inspired others. The 2025 ceremony will honor legendary First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams, Emmy Award-winning comedian W. Kamau Bell and “America’s Government Teacher” Sharon McMahon with Free Expression Awards. The student newspaper The Independent Florida Alligator will be presented with the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in Media.

The 2025 Free Spirit Scholars are Claire Wulff (Alabama), Angel Jack (Alaska), Lucia Sugich (Arizona), Ava Kate White (Arkansas), Nico Fischer (California), Benjamin Lehman (Colorado), Camilla DeBell (Connecticut), Danielle Keenan (Delaware), Winnie Chan (District of Columbia), Julianna Perez (Florida), Stella St. Clair (Georgia), Carl Dominic Niyo (Hawaii), Cameron English (Idaho), Aarna Mishra (Illinois), Charles Allison (Indiana), Shanza Sami (Iowa), Macy Williams (Kansas), Ella Peabody (Kentucky), Khaliyah Marie Claiborne (Louisiana), Quinn Wherley (Maine), Jordin Anteneh (Maryland), Annalise Vito (Massachusetts), Ari Hickman (Michigan), Sonia Kharbanda (Minnesota), Ava Walker (Mississippi), Vincent Hsiao (Missouri), Malena Gangi (Montana), Madeline Petrick (Nebraska), Aerith Hamper (Nevada), Kaylee Mague (New Hampshire), Livia Kam (New Jersey), Peyton Jackson (New Mexico), Natalie Viderman (New York), Julia Farris (North Carolina), Alannah Kemmis (North Dakota), Lyndia Zheng (Ohio), Abhimanyu Sukhdial (Oklahoma), Meghan Whitten (Oregon), Noah Radio (Pennsylvania), Julianna Williams (Rhode Island), Caroline Brandes (South Carolina), Vivian Kiesow-Knudsen (South Dakota), Henry Knowles (Tennessee), Katherine Rodgers (Texas), Kennedy Plant (Utah), Samuel Houghton (Vermont), Elizabeth Sun (Virginia), Marguerite Bindel (Washington), Zane Stewart (West Virginia), Christina Baumann (Wisconsin), and Nalani Jordan (Wyoming).

For more information about the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, visit FreeSpirit.org.