Alum wins opportunity to interview Colin Powell

Posted: Nov. 15, 2002

Robert Lopez (2001 Scholar) was one of two college students chosen in a nationwide Knight Ridder Tribune campus contest to interview Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The winners received an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., Nov. 5-7. Lopez and the second winner, a Colorado State University student, worked from the Knight Ridder bureau in the National Press Club building.

They were chosen after submitting a resume and essay outlining why they wanted to interview Powell.

"Though my background is in features and entertainment reporting, the first part of the newspaper that I read in the morning is international news," Lopez said. "I have always had an interest in diplomacy."

He is a senior at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. His story was published in the Ball State Daily News.

An excerpt: "Instead of focusing on one geographic area, Powell said students should keep an eye on the world as a whole.

" 'You can't turn your back on the rest of the world,' he said. 'College students, regardless of where they're headed in life, have an obligation to keep themselves informed on all major issues. They should read broadly and read deeply. But they shouldn't become so concerned with one area that they don't see how it connects to other countries or other issues.'"

Reach Lopez at rclopez@bsu.edu.

Back to top