Ken Hannan, right, is presented with his $1,000 scholarship from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
By Kristy King
Staff Writer
Washtenaw Community College’s broadcast media arts program is developing students well beyond the classroom. Students in the program have the opportunity to host their own radio show and learn from the industry experts who visit classes as guest speakers.
The program is also part of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. The MAB just held a ceremony at the Great Lakes Media Show last Wednesday, for five students across the state of Michigan and presented each student with a $1000 scholarship. Among one of those recipients was WCC student Ken Hannan, a 45-year-old broadcast media major.
“My professor, Dena [Blair], had announced the scholarship during her class and encouraged us to apply, so I wrote a 250 word essay and I was chosen,” said Hannan. “I actually had no idea I was one of five.”
A former chef, Hannan decided to hang up his apron and go back to school. Hannan said he’s always had a passion for broadcast arts, which is why he went into the program at WCC. Now, he hosts his own radio show on the college’s Orchard Radio.
“It just kind of seemed like something that might play to my strengths,” Hannan said. “NPR is the dream because it’s a format that I have always loved and that’s appealing to me. They’re talking about important things and hitting on news stories that other avenues can’t or won’t touch.
“They focus on events of the state like the pipeline going through Lake Superior,” he said.
Hannan said working with professional equipment and hosting his own radio show in a school setting has benefitted his education.
That educational benefit is the intent behind offering students the chance to host shows on Orchard Radio, said Ryan Ehlke, the radio’s station manager.
“The one thing I am most proud of with Orchard Radio is the experience students will have when they host their own show,” Ehlke said. “Whether that is having the creative control of what they want to talk about on-air or having the knowledge of how to use the equipment and being confident and comfortable enough to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
“If there is one thing a student must know about being in the radio industry, it is having to troubleshoot technical issues quickly and independently, to get back on-air,” Ehlke said.
Any WCC student with a GPA of a 2.0 or higher, regardless of what program they’re in, can host their own show on Orchard Radio.
“We can give the students the hands-on experiences that they need to find success in the industry,” said Dena Blair, lead faculty member for the broadcast media arts program. “We are constantly in contact with those in the industry, making sure that our coursework is consistent with the needs of the industry. That way, the skillsets that they are using in their projects in our classes directly transfer to the skillsets that they will be using in the industry.”
Recently, Madison Rally and Brian Welch from the radio station W4 Country (102.9) came to campus to talk with students about the radio industry.
“They were just regular people,” said Brian Blaesing of the class visit. Blaesing is a 21-year-old student in the program.
“Madison [Rally] had purple hair while being an on-air talent and also a business executive,” Blaesing said. “You would just expect those people in the industry to act a certain way, and they just seemed normal.”
Rally doesn’t like public speaking but still has the ability to reach thousands of people through radio without hesitation. She often referred to her job as just talking with her friends while a microphone happened to be there.
“Networking is an important part of the industry,” Blair said. “I’ve brought in folks that work in the industry, to share their journey and allow students to network with them. Internships are another great way to network and students are encouraged to do one,” Blair said. “Also, WCC is a part of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters that hosts many career fairs, and students are encouraged to attend those.”
Hannan said being in the broadcast media arts program has helped equip him with the resources to enter the industry.
“WCC has helped me tremendously, Dena [Blair] in particular,” said Hannan, adding that Blair is a source of support and has provided him a lot of opportunities. Through the program, Hannan attended an MAB convention and a field trip to the NPR station in downtown Ann Arbor.
“We saw the studio and talked to people that actually do these shows,” said Hannan. “Making contacts is a big part of this industry and WCC has really given me the opportunity to do that.”
Students interested in starting their own radio show on Orchard Radio can email radio@wccnet.edu to get started. Visit orchardradio.com to listen to the station.
