Meadville Tribune

Local News

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
September 1, 2012

Student from Saegertown experiences GOP convention first-hand

By Jane Smith Special to the Tribune

MEADVILLE — Although no local elected officials attended the Republican National Convention, Crawford County was represented by a young man from Saegertown who was working at the GOP event as a student from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Matt Knoedler, a son of Doug and Beth Knoedler of 20890 Hill Road, Saegertown, is a 2010 graduate of Cambridge Springs High School. He is a junior at Clarion, where he is a communications major with a journalism concentration and a minor in political science. He said a Clarion professor reached out to all political science students in the spring regarding participation in an academic seminar organized by the Washington Center. Located in Washington, D.C., the center is a leading educational institution that partners with schools for internships and academic seminars.

He completed an application, which included not only his personal information (grades, etc.), but why he was interested in politics.

He was one of nine Clarion students chosen to attend. He had the choice of attending the RNC or the upcoming Democratic National Convention. His choice was the Republican event because he “figured it would be more of a media circus between (Mitt) Romney, (Rick) Santorum and (Ron) Paul all competing for the spotlight.” (The application was made before the nominee was known.)

He spent the last two weeks in Tampa. The first week was at an academic seminar. “They talked about the races and the political parties and a variety of things,” said Knoedler in a telephone interview Friday afternoon.

The second week, he was working with Fox News Radio. He said it was interesting to “see how everything comes together for a live show.” He was particularly interested to see what happens when there is breaking news — such as the death of astronaut Neil Armstrong last week and how quickly news decisions and actions are taken.

Asked if he enjoyed the convention, he said, “very much. I liked hearing the speeches and seeing the people in person,” he added, noting it is very different than hearing them on TV. When listening to the leading personalities inside the arena, “you get a better idea. It makes it easier to connect (with them),” he said about hearing the speakers in person.

One of his most memorable moments was seeing Clint Eastwood on Thursday night, when the actor/director delivered a speech that received much media attention.

Having Hurricane Isaac as part of the week’s experiences also was interesting. Knoedler said he learned how conventions are organized and how quickly everybody had to adjust schedules because of the storm.

“Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy store,” he wrote on his Facebook page, referring to all his activities at the convention. He was on the convention floor when Mitt Romney’s and Paul Ryan’s nominations were affirmed. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

He met with NBC’s David Gregory, host of “Meet the Press,” and said he wanted his job. He also met NBC’s Chuck Todd and Mike Huckabee of Fox News.

Although he is a communications major, Knoedler said he would like to run for political office some day. Politics would not be an unknown area for him. His father is a supervisor in Hayfield Township. Knoedler is a grandson of Joanne Knoedler of Venango and the late Chuck Knoedler.

Overall, he enjoyed the experience and learning first-hand not only about politics, but about the broadcasting world as well.

And with his greatest “life’s lesson” now behind him, he returns to classes at Clarion next week.

Text Only
Local News
Business Marquee
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Stocks