Become a kid reporter to score the big interviews

Topanga Sena is only ten years old but she has interviewed celebrities, athletes and politicians. As a member of the Scholastic Press Corps, she has interviewed the likes of Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees, broadcaster Dick Vitale and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic. She has also reported on the March, 2011 earthquake in Japan and  did a feature on Give Kids the World in Florida.

Perhaps her biggest coup was when she was selected as a Scholastic News Kid Reporter to go to Washington, D.C.  and interview the President. Sitting in the White House library in July, 2011, she and fellow Kid Reporter, Jacob Schroeder discussed many subjects with the President. Topanga asked him why the Constitution is cool. He answered “It’s very cool to have a document that, even though it was written 220 years ago, still applies today.”

Check out Topanga and Jacob’s interview. 

Topanga & Jacob at White House

Another question of importance to everyone that she asked was: “Mr. President, I live in Central Florida, and some of my friends and people who live in my neighborhood have had to live in hotels because their parents lost their jobs and lost their home to foreclosure. What would you say to kids and families who are struggling in this economy?” The President replied, “We’re going to do everything we can” to keep people in their homes, start new businesses and create opportunities for people to get what he called the “jobs of the future.”

Following the interview, Topanga and Jacob were surprised with a visit from Bo, the First Family’s Portuguese water dog. The President also gave each of them a pocket-sized Constitution where he wrote “Dream big dreams!”