Distinguished Graduates 2016: Nick Fry, pursuing his life goals

Nick Fry, who graduated from Linganore in 1996, is the 2016 Distinguished Graduate honoree in Arts & Humanities.

Throughout his high school career, he favored and excelled in history, and now he works at the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library in UMSL, (University of Missouri-St. Louis).

He especially enjoyed AP US History, taught by Mr. Tony Miller. Fry said, “Mr. Miller really helped set me up to be prepared to write real college level essays.”

Fry also said, “History class was very important and helpful because it helped you learn how to research. You need to know how to judge information on accuracy in what you read and understanding it in a broader context.”

During his high school career, Fry participated on the Academic Team, and they won the county championship four years in a row.

Fry attended UMBC and Drexel University, where he ultimately earned a masters degree in history.

He researched and wrote articles for an encyclopedia about railroad history.

Fry said,” I love to read non-fiction and write about American history.”

For Fry, research is more fun and easier than writing. Fry said, “You get to do all this digging, and all the research, but then you have to stitch it all together for others to understand.”

Fry’s advice for students is, “You need to have a plan of what you want to do with your life. You think it’s going to be a straight line, but its not. There’s going to be a lot of turns, and you will go different directions, but eventually you’ll get there.”

Fry loves his job at the National Railroad Library. He handles original source documents that had a huge impact on our nation. Fry said he gets to “have a direct connection with historical events.”

He is currently trying to get more documents out to students to see in person and learn from at the library.

Mrs. Natalie Rebetsky, a former member to the DGO, (Distinguished Graduate Organization) committee, encouraged Fry to apply. She told him that she believed that he was worth it.

Mrs. Natalie Rebetsky said “I remembered him as a great student and always being engaged in learning. His constant curiosity makes teachers want to be better.”