Junior Austin Wader is majoring in broadcast journalism, a life-long dream of his.
Transferring from the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, Wader said he chose UCA for its location and broadcast program.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little kid. It’s a career I’ve always wanted to pursue. I was planning on attending a university outside of the state but COVID-19 ruined all my plans and I was looking more local,” he said.
“After two years at UACCM, I thought it just made sense to come to UCA. I researched their broadcasting classes and thought it was a good fit, and I am close to home.”
Wader said he is involved in the News 6 program with UCA and he also has a show on UCA’s radio station, The Bear 91.3.
“It’s been fun,” he said about News 6. “Being able to learn from people who have been in the business and learn how to read and write news stories, and get video for the news. It has helped me to prepare better for my future.”
“I want to get a good job after this and hopefully, the stuff that I have learned here will help me out in my future career. That’s been one of the big things I’ve learned while being on the News 6 staff,” he said.
Wader also has a sports radio show on the Bear 91.3.
“We are streaming on the UCA radio on Wednesdays from 7 to 7:50 p.m. Mainly, it is just a sports podcast where we talk about the NFL, college football, NBA and things of that nature.”
Wader’s plans after college are to get involved in sports broadcasting.
“I want to be a play-by-play announcer or an announcer. It doesn’t matter who. I just want to go into that field,” he said.
“I have some experience with play-by-play as I do the play-by-play announcing for my old high school, Vilonia, and I do the play-by-play announcing for their basketball team. I just want to be involved with sports in some way. It does not matter if it is local or national,” he said.
Wader said some of his favorite memories at UCA are meeting new people and having new opportunities.
“UCA is big enough that you can meet someone new every day and I think that I have been able to make some good connections here and I’m glad that I’ve been able to gain a lot of knowledge and experience in the broadcasting field.”
