Newsmaker: Brett Murphy

Noteworthy: On Thursday, the annual Al McDowell Memorial Scholarship will be presented to Murphy, who is a University of Pittsburgh senior. The scholarship is named in memory of the Pittsburgh broadcasting pioneer and 1952 School of Arts and Sciences graduate.

Age: 22

Residence: Oakland

Family: parents Helene and Kevin Murphy, and siblings Nolan, 25, and Jacqueline, 28

Occupation: Freelance writer for Pitt Magazine, Pop City Media and Shady Ave magazine, and staff writer for Pitt News

Education: Bachelor of Arts in English, with a specialization in nonfiction writing, expected in December; minors in political science and studio arts

Background: Murphy is from Hopkinton, Mass. After he graduates from Pitt, he plans to work at a magazine in New York or attend graduate school to major in journalism. A fan of the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, he also enjoys reading, drawing and painting, he said.

Quote: “Within the field, you get to hear other people's stories and retell them in an interesting light. For me, that's always been the big draw to writing.”