Major:
Information Communication Technology
Year Graduated:
2021
Hometown:
Columbia, KY
Current City:
Lexington, KY
Current Employer:
Director of Programming at WRFL/Gen.G Esports Partnerships Activations Team
Top played song on your playlist?:
Hot Chip – Hungry Child! I found the song while DJ-ing at WRFL a few years ago and it really spoke to me. It has been in all my playlists ever since!
Where has your CI degree taken you?:
Information Communication Technology has taken me all over the place. I started out as a volunteer DJ at WRFL after finding out about it through one of my ICT professors. Soon after, I was picked up at my hometown radio station for data analytics and production work. I was offered an incredibly opportunity in Lexington with WRFL as a Production Director, and I later got promoted to a Programming Director. From there, doing some commentary work and assistance with the Cat Smash Clash led me to Gen.G Esports as an intern for their Partnerships Activations Teams, working specifically with UK and UK Esports to grow the scene on campus and around Lexington. Without ICT and the College of Communication and Information, I never would’ve made my way to WRFL, which easily lead me to my absolute dream of working for Gen.G.
What is your favorite thing about your job?:
Broadcast and commentary for UK Esports and Gen.G! I always loved basketball commentary. Mike Breen, Kevin Harlan, and Stacey King were huge influences that led to my serious love for commentary on esports. Being a part of huge events and competitions, even when I’m not actively competing, is amazing. I’m so glad that Gen.G thinks I’ve got the chops for it; they’ve had me at a few UK events and even some non-UK ones, and it’s been incredible every step of the way.
What¹s the most valuable thing you learned in CI?:
Everyone has knowledge that you don’t. Learning how to use knowledge out of the smallest pool of available information is something I’ve found useful in all my work.
What advice would you give to current CI students?:
I’ve got two pieces of advice that led me to where I am today:
First, friends and opportunities can come from anywhere. Some of my greatest friends are old professors, coworkers, and classmates - people that I never would have expected to get along with. One of my favorite professors became someone that I can go to with professional and personal questions. I know that if an opportunity comes up that they think I’m fit for, they’d recommend me just for the small price of being their friend. People say connections matter; I say friendships out of connections are more valuable, professionally and personally.
Second, get involved. Get involved in anything: a club, intramural sports, campus events, sports games, movie screenings, whatever piques your interest. Making friends by doing things you enjoy makes college so much more fulfilling. Before I found UK Esports and WRFL, nothing got me out of my dorm besides food and class. Finding things to go to with friends and making friends at organizations and events is the best part of college. You never know who you’re going to meet!