Armed with a degree in mass communication with a concentration in journalism and a wealth of hands-on experience, Santana is ready to make his mark in the fast-paced and dynamic field of broadcast journalism.

鈥淚 am super grateful for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the journey I鈥檝e gone through,鈥� Santana said. 鈥淐oming here was the best decision I made in my academic career. I can鈥檛 wait to see where my career takes me.鈥�

As he prepares to take the next step in his career, Santana reflected on the inspiration and skills he has learned through three internships. He spent two summers interning with the Dumas Clarion newspaper through the Arkansas Newspaper Foundation鈥檚 Summer Internship Program. His internship was specially sponsored by donations from the Arkansas Press Women, the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, Dumas Economic Development, and Merchants & Farmers Bank of Dumas in memory of Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder, who owned and published The Dumas Clarion for 44 years with her husband Melvin.

鈥淭he Dumas Clarion built my journalism knowledge, and they created a stepping stone for me to enter the journalism field, and I will forever be grateful for them,鈥� Santana said. 鈥淚 learned how to find local news, how to network, and how to attend press conferences. The last two summers went very well. I learned everything I needed to learn as a young journalist.鈥�

During the fall 2023 semester, Santana had the opportunity to intern at KATV, where he worked with Brenda Lepenski and decided that he wanted to work in broadcast journalism.

鈥淚t was a really exciting internship. I learned how the everyday life of a broadcast journalist works,鈥� he said. 鈥淭ime management is really important. Brenda taught me a lot and gave me so much great advice. I鈥檓 very excited about going into broadcasting.

Now that his college career is coming to an end, Santana expressed gratitude to Linna Jones and Rick Wright from the Dumas Clarion, as well as Professors Tim Edwards, Jamie Byrne McCollum, Kiel Thorlton, and Sonny Rhodes from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 School of Mass Communication for helping him build his skills as a journalist.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Santana also serves as a reporter and photographer for the student newspaper, the Forum, as well as co-vice president and social media chair for the Hispanic/Latinx Initiative. He was recently inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha honor society, where he received the Top Scholar Award for having the highest GPA of a graduating student.

For other students who are thinking about going to college, Santana鈥檚 advice for them is to get involved in campus life.

鈥淭his is what I learned during my first year of college when I was really stuck at my dorm,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel like college is about more than just receiving a degree. You need to make friends, network, participate in student organizations, and connect with people who will help you in your journey.鈥�

The post Aspiring Journalist Sets Sights on Broadcasting Career appeared first on News.

鈥淏eing named the 2024 Taste of Little Rock Honoree is quite surreal,鈥� Rowan said. 鈥淎s an attendee of past Taste of Little Rock events, I have always looked up to the honorees. To now be included among them is very humbling, and my heart is filled with gratitude. I annually highlight Taste of Little Rock on my calendar as it neatly combines two things I love, food and, of course, giving back to Little Rock. It’s the perfect combination and extremely appropriate as I have always viewed the importance of investing in higher education not as getting students full of knowledge but rather making them always hungry for more.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 highly anticipated culinary and social event, Taste of Little Rock, is set for Tuesday, April 2, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center. The event annually raises more than $100,000 for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association Scholarship Fund while introducing guests to some of the best food in the city from the finest restaurants in Little Rock.

The event鈥檚 honoree has a passion for his alma mater and has a long history of providing support for students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淥ur honoree is not just a familiar voice on the airwaves but a familiar symbol of community spirit and support for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. 鈥淭ime and again, Tre鈥� Day has unselfishly utilized his time and talents to support student scholarships, professional development, and equipment at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. We are so happy to honor Tre鈥� Day as the 2024 Taste of Little Rock honoree, a shining example of the profound impact one person can have.鈥�

Education has always been important to Rowan, who graduated from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mass communication in 2000 with a 4.0 GPA. Once supported by a scholarship from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, he has continuously and generously invested in education through his longtime endowed scholarship program for mass communication students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. The money is raised on Labor Day weekend with his award-winning “TreDay.com Charity Classic,” which consists of a tennis tournament, a celebrity party, and his locally famous silent auction.

Additionally, Rowan has also donated the equipment for two new audio production studios at the university, is a two-time recipient of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Meritorious Service Award, is a lifetime member of the Alumni Association, and serves on the School of Mass Communication Board of Directors. His service also includes serving as a guest speaker to mass communication classes every semester, hosting tours of campus with international delegations, producing commercials, speaking with high school students about the benefits of attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and doing live broadcasts with the university鈥檚 TRIO programs.

Rowan鈥檚 professors in the School of Mass Communication praise him as an outstanding graduate who has done so much to support and inspire 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to see Tre鈥� Day honored in this way,鈥� said Dr. Jamie Bryne-McCollum, professor and undergraduate program coordinator. 鈥淗e is a fiercely loyal alum of the School of Mass Communication and has done everything he can to support the school and its students. He has hosted numerous interns over the years at Power 92, and he has endowed a scholarship that will continue to provide opportunities for students to complete their education with us. Tre truly believes in paying it forward. He speaks to students in our classes and is a great representative of the school in the larger community. On top of everything else, he is a wonderful husband, father, and friend.鈥�

鈥淗e is truly deserving because of his commitment not only to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock but specifically to the School of Mass Communication,鈥� said Dr. Tim Edwards, professor of mass communication. 鈥淗e is the personification of the engaged alum. When I call on him to speak to a class or to present his scholarship during our annual awards ceremony, he always delivers. I think students who engage with him come away inspired because of what he has been able to accomplish after leaving 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Giving back is a part of his DNA.”

Rowan began his radio career in 1996 right out of high school. The name of his popular radio personality was given to him by his basketball teammates after hitting nine three-pointers in a single game. While a full-time student at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, he worked his way up from an internship to a popular host at KIPR 92.3 FM. He worked as the music and production assistant for KIPR and KOKY from 1998-2002. Currently, Rowan is the assistant program director of Power 92 – Little Rock, the host of the No. 1 rated afternoon drive show in Arkansas, 鈥淭ake it to the House,鈥� and the creator and host of the podcast, 鈥淭hrough My Two Blue.鈥�

General admission tickets for Taste of Little Rock are $75, while tickets for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty and staff, alumni association lifetime members, and graduates within the last five years are $35.

For sponsorship or ticket information, please contact the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association at alumni@ualr.edu or 501-916-6438.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Honor Travis 鈥楾re鈥� Day鈥� Rowan as 2024 Taste of Little Rock Honoree appeared first on News.