Local Teen Named Best Newspaper Carrier in the U.S.
By: Barb Consiglio
Updated: May 24, 2010
DUBOIS, CLEARFIELD COUNTY---A local 16-year-old has been named the Best Newspaper Carrier in the United States by the Newspaper Association of America for carriers 18 and under.
Ryan Sprague has been delivering The Courier Express in DuBois for four years, and those who are lucky enough to be on his route say it’s his caring nature that makes him standout above the rest.
Ryan has Cerebral Palsy, but he has more than overcome the challenges he’s faced. Each day after school, he and his dad, Paul, pickup their stack of newspapers and begin their route.
“He tries to go a little bit extra for his customers,” said Paul Sprague, “He makes sure he gets the paper there before it’s supposed to be. He’s friendly with them, cares about them, and asks what’s going on in their lives.”
Their first stop is the DuBois Nursing Home, and his customers say his service can’t be beat.
“He’s very, very good,” Sally Borland said, “He’s on time, and he slides the paper under the door so we don’t have to come out for it, and he’s just the best there is.”
Ryan always goes that extra step that has earned him the title of Best Newspaper Carrier in the country.
“He had a customer that was in the hospital, and he took the paper up and talked to her for a while. There have been people who have been moved from the DuBois Village to the DuBois Nursing Home and vice versa, and he has taken their paper down there without any interruption in their service,” Paul Sprague said.
Ryan says he’s worked hard for the award, and he’s glad that his customers are happy.
“I feel good about it. It means I did something [they] appreciate, and I’m honored,” said Ryan Sprague.
Jody Cavazza, Regional Manager at McLean Publishing, which owns the Courier Express, says she wishes all her carriers were as dedicated as Ryan.
“I hope he stays on forever. If I had 10 of him it would be great,” Cavazza said.
He was also the runner-up in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s newspaper carrier contest, as well as the runner-up in the InterState Circulation Manager Group’s Regional Competition.
Ryan Sprague has been delivering The Courier Express in DuBois for four years, and those who are lucky enough to be on his route say it’s his caring nature that makes him standout above the rest.
Ryan has Cerebral Palsy, but he has more than overcome the challenges he’s faced. Each day after school, he and his dad, Paul, pickup their stack of newspapers and begin their route.
“He tries to go a little bit extra for his customers,” said Paul Sprague, “He makes sure he gets the paper there before it’s supposed to be. He’s friendly with them, cares about them, and asks what’s going on in their lives.”
Their first stop is the DuBois Nursing Home, and his customers say his service can’t be beat.
“He’s very, very good,” Sally Borland said, “He’s on time, and he slides the paper under the door so we don’t have to come out for it, and he’s just the best there is.”
Ryan always goes that extra step that has earned him the title of Best Newspaper Carrier in the country.
“He had a customer that was in the hospital, and he took the paper up and talked to her for a while. There have been people who have been moved from the DuBois Village to the DuBois Nursing Home and vice versa, and he has taken their paper down there without any interruption in their service,” Paul Sprague said.
Ryan says he’s worked hard for the award, and he’s glad that his customers are happy.
“I feel good about it. It means I did something [they] appreciate, and I’m honored,” said Ryan Sprague.
Jody Cavazza, Regional Manager at McLean Publishing, which owns the Courier Express, says she wishes all her carriers were as dedicated as Ryan.
“I hope he stays on forever. If I had 10 of him it would be great,” Cavazza said.
He was also the runner-up in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s newspaper carrier contest, as well as the runner-up in the InterState Circulation Manager Group’s Regional Competition.
