Whiz Kid: Dan Dobras

Name: Dan Dobras

Age: 17

School: Royal Oak High School, where he’ll be a senior in the fall

Accomplishment: Dobras earned the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship for his efforts as a student journalist. One student from each state is chosen to receive the national award and receives a $1,000 scholarship. He also gets to join other student journalists representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia in Washington, DC, this week for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship and Journalism Conference.

"Dan is the fourth Acorn Editor in Chief to earn this distinction,” ROHS Acorn newsmagazine teacher adviser Ann Maudlin said. “It's a terrific honor and a testimony to the caliber of students involved in our publications programs at Royal Oak High School.

One of the things Dobras had to do to apply for the scholarship was to write two essays: one on why he wants to pursue a career in journalism and another about his specific qualities as a free spirit.

So what makes Dobras a free spirit? “I show determination and leadership with a bit of my creative side,” he said. “I have the ability to go with the flow and keep things in control.” 

“Anyone who knows Dan well knows that as he shifts roles from student to leader to mentor to friend, it is the soundness of his integrity and his innate sense of joy about living life fully that make those transitions at once seamless and authentic,” Maudlin said.

As for a career, Dobras isn’t sure exactly what he’d like to do in journalism, “something in communications for sure.”

The high school student was really looking forward to his trip to Washington, where he was going to visit the Newseum, interact with prominent journalists, visit newsrooms, tour the capital and share experiences with other Free Spirit Scholars. “I’m excited to see the kids from the other states,” he said. 

Key to awesomeness: "Dan is the quintessential student – someone who demonstrates integrity, intellectual and spiritual tenacity, an innate joy toward life and a genuine interest in the world,” Maudlin said. “He is passionate, driven, consistent and friendly, which makes him a positive force in any classroom environment. His inherent goodness allows his peers to embrace him as a natural leader. He's a keen and thoughtful observer of situations and has terrific instincts when it comes to people. He maintains great sensibility and poise under pressure, and establishes authentic connections very quickly with others. … He is a skilled reporter who preserves the truth, works to improve his writing, responds well to criticism, and honors his subject as well as his readers."

Do you know our next Whiz Kid?

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout? How about a school group that worked on a project for charity? Did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honorees.

Royal Oak Patch seeks suggestions from readers for individual children, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. Email your nomination to editor Judy Davids. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's name and contact information
• Whiz Kid's name, age and school
• Whiz Kid's accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)
• Whiz Kid photo(s)