This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, an annual program that inspires 51 high school students — one from each state and the District of Columbia — to pursue careers in journalism and multimedia storytelling. Named for my father, Freedom Forum and USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth, the conference continues his legacy of creating opportunities for young people of all backgrounds and viewpoints. The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference has educated and inspired more than 1,700 students, many of whom have become prize-winning journalists and media industry leaders.