McFarland, an Army contract reporter, won the award in the Contri-bution by a Contractor or Stringer (Writer) category for his Aug. 25, 2005 news article, "Post gas station does record business." This is his first journalism award.

McFarland wrote the article for the Pentagram after having been on staff for only a month. He received his bachelor's degree in political science and psychology from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania the previous May.

At college, McFarland wrote for and edited the school newspaper "The Dickinsonian."

McFarland wrote his award-winning news article when gasoline prices were just beginning to rise last summer, a week before Hurricane Katrina hit and sent prices soaring even further.

He said he decided to do the story after seeing several articles on the subject in the mainstream press. He knew prices were lower at installation gas pumps so he stopped by the Fort Myer station to assess the situation. McFarland talked to the gas station manager and motorists waiting in line at the station. Still unsatisfied, he left notes on cars in a post parking lot soliciting motorists for feedback on driving habits and fill-ups.

McFarland credited Pentagram Editor Beau Whittington for extracting a paragraph in the middle of his story and making it the opening lead.

"Once an Army of one, the number of hybrids in Fort Myer parking lots now qualifies as a squad," the story begins.

"I'm most proud of the lead -- it might be what jumped out at the judges," he said.

What's essential in journalism, McFarland said, is to "Zero in on what's important and tell it in a compelling way ... to make [readers] want to come back to the publication in the future."

McFarland said he considers journalism a most honorable profession.

"Choosing a path in life I wanted a career where I could support myself but also feel I was doing something good for the country," he said. "Journalism does that. The number one priority is the truth, and that's a noble calling. You can always feel good about yourself and what you stand for."

One of the writers McFarland said he admires is Washington Post reporter Dana Priest, who recently received a Pulitzer Prize for her reporting on "black site" prisons in the federal government's counterterrorism program. McFarland said Priest "writes well and is effective in getting information."

Pete Williams, an NBC Justice Department correspondent who previously covered the Pentagon, was the guest speaker at the May 5 ceremony, which also included Army Defense Information School Commandant Col. Hiram Bell Jr.

"Matt is a credit to his craft," said Fort Myer Military Garrison Commader Col. Thomas A. Allmon. "Matt is committed to providing quality stories for our Pentagram - this accolade is well deserved. The installation is extremely fortunate to have him as a member of our team."