SALT LAKE CITY (BP)–It’s not every day a 16-year-old student has an opportunity to become part of the working press. And it’s not every day or even every lifetime one has an opportunity to interview an Olympian who has just won a gold medal.
For Anna Maria Fry, a high school newspaper staffer, both opportunities arose when her high school journalism teacher, Joni Hannigan, said she believed Anna was a good candidate for a real-life experience and proposed she come along for an eight-day trip to Salt Lake City. Anna’s parents agreed, the school principal agreed, and Baptist Press finally gave its nod. Fry was on her way.
Hannigan is a national correspondent for Baptist Press who also teaches journalism and English at Henry County High School near Atlanta. Fry is the news editor of Wingspan, a new 16-page newsjournal published monthly.
“I appreciate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Fry, who is interested in pursuing a future career in journalism. A committed believer, Fry worships regularly at a local evangelistic church and was interested in going to Salt Lake City to learn more about the interactions between Mormons and traditional Christians — and perhaps rub shoulders with an Olympic athlete.
Fry got her wish in the Utah Media Center Feb. 16 when she was granted a short interview, two questions, with 21-year-old Russian figure skater Alexei Yagudin, who won the gold Feb. 14.
“It happened so quickly,” said Fry, “I really didn’t know what was going on.”
Describing her whirlwind interview with the world’s best skater as “exhilarating,” Fry said one thought that that entered her mind was, “Too bad he’s 21!”
It’s not been all gold though. Despite describing the interview with Yagudin as the most “prestigious” of her assignments so far, Fry said her favorite experience was going along with a team of Action Ministries International individuals on Sunday to share hope with Alzheimer’s patients in a nursing home.
“Although the interview with Alexei meant more to me as a writer,” Fry said, “the interview with [Alzheimer’s patient] Dagnee meant more to me as a person.
“I learned something from talking with Dagnee and I grew spiritually,” Fry said.
“That’s not the same as statistics.”
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(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: INTERVIEWING A CHAMP.
