Past YAB Students

Dan Leach
The great Dan the Man Leach is currently a rising star on the Michigan Talk Radio Network and its 17 affilaites throughout the state of Michigan and also worldwide online at www.mlive.com. It is widely known that Dan has a huge fan base in both American Samoa and Chad among many others. He hosts two radio shows currently, "The EMU Sports Spectrum," a weekly look at Eastern Michigan Sports, its atheltes and coaches. He also hosts "The Sports Edge With the L and L Boys," a weekly sports radio show broadcast live from Buffalo Wild Wings in Ypsilanti with co-host and sunshine of his life, Matt Lucas who is also the Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at Eastern Michigan University. This unique show covers both local, regional, and national sports and is the only sports talk show in Michigan that is able to reach the entire state and its many diverse sports fans.

Dan also covers the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan for MTRN and serves as the play-by-play voice for EMU men's and women's basketball, EMU football and University of Michigan men's lacrosse.

Dan looks forward to continuing his growth in broadcast journalism and wants to make a difference in a field that he loves deeply while he brings whatever the story may be to you in a truly unique way.

He can be reached at secretdtm@aol.com and is available for Bar and Bat Mitzvah's, wedding's, and select holidays.

Dan "The Man" Leach
"Sports Edge With The L&L Boys"
"EMU Sports Spectrum"
Michigan Talk Radio Network
Secretdtm@aol.com
Believe in The Dream

Amber Love
Right now I am a street team member with Embassy Music Gospel Record company and I will begin working next semester at 97.1 Radio station. I am currently acting. I will be featured in a play called "Jar the Floors" this coming November, and I have been a special guest singing at churches and conferences. I truly thank BQ and Nicole for the awesome encouragement and motivation to fulfill my goals in all that I set out to do. I miss you all and I will continue to soar to greater, and bigger heights in my life.

Ben Lando
I am the new News Director at WIDR - Western Michigan University Radio!

Kathleen Brown
The new semester has started up here in Vermont, and I am currently working as work-study at our station, WRUV
FM. My show is on every Sunday 10-Midnight, and can be found at www.uvm.edu/wruv.

Jennifer Pham
I go to Oklahoma City University. This semester is going very well. I actually just got back from Rio Bravo, Mexico. I am part of a non-profit student production agency. I am the project's manager and producer and we are putting on a promotion and recruiting video for a ministry called Volunteers in Mission. We interviewed missioners and the citizens of Rio Bravo while on our trip. It was so awesome and it was a life changing experience for me. Also, at work I have just begun my producer training. I will be producing the noon news by March. I am very excited.

Nayri Apelian
2001: After my Internship at Radio America in August 2000, I immediately continued my work for the Presidential Campaign -- Bush/Cheney 2000. On the educational side, I was working on my transfer requirements at Los Angeles Pierce College. In January, I registered for the Spring Session at Pierce College, soon after my old team reunited for the Los Angeles Mayoral Race. I completed my transfer units during the Summer Session at Pierce. Since then I have been working on my applications to American University, George Washington University, and Georgetown University. It was BQ's advice that really helped me decide to diversify and broaden my educational goals by moving to Washington, DC. 2002:

1. Moving to Washington, DC
2. Attending one of the University's listed above (my gut is telling me it is AU) 3. Arranging a job!

Will Edwards
Will Edwards is co-host and producer of The Edwards & Santarelli Show, a top-rated, weekly variety show broadcast from the heart of Yale's campus on WYBC New Haven (1340 AM). When he is not sharing common sense with listeners everywhere, Mr. Edwards writes a column for the Yale Daily News and is involved in the Yale College Student Union, a speakers bureau. Mr. Edwards is a senior at Yale University where he is an economics major. Next year, Mr. Edwards will work in investment banking.

Matt Feato
Currently I continue to volunteer my time here at WMUA at UMass (being no longer a full-time student I don't get paid for what I do). Between a weekly 4-hour dance mix show, sports broadcasts and the like, it keeps me fairly busy. I'm also finishing up school as a senior here at UMass and look to graduate hopefully this year with a degree in Communications. As for paid work, I'm with 94.7WMAS out of Springfield (smaller station AC format) in promotions and hope to work my way up there with things, be it maybe on air, or whatever have you. As summer soon rolls around, I'll be entering my 4th season at Six Flags New England working in the rides department. Finally, as an up and coming DJ, I've been fairly 'active' in the nightclub/rave industry, between promoting songs and clubs on the radio, to continuously spinning myself. Currently I've been building up a solid list of contacts, and hopefully look to get fully into the swing of things later this year. Eventually, my dream is to work with either ESPN or in Boston with Entercom broadcasting & also Avalon/the club industry, as it's the best club in the country right now.

Rachel Johnson
Rachel C. Johnson, a senior broadcast journalism student at Hampton University
in Hampton, Va., was selected as a Young American Broadcaster for 2001. Since her induction, Johnson has been busy preparing for graduation in May 2002. Besides preparing for graduation, Johnson has succeeded at Hampton both socially and academically. In the fall, she was selected to represent the Hampton University chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists as Ms. NABJ. Johnson is an editor for the school's newspaper, The Hampton Script, and was recently inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, the national journalism honor society. She also hopes to develop a talk radio show for the campus radio station WHOV 88.1 FM. Johnson, who enjoys creating animated character voices, plans to attend law school, and hopes to one day work for the FCC. By incorporating all mediums-print, radio, and television--she wants to advocate for better quality programming.

Jason Lewis
I am currently interning at two of the local radio stations in Jackson, MS (WKXI - 107.5 FM and WJMI - 99.7 FM). During the holiday season I was given the opportunity to fill the morning show while the normal on-air personality was on vacation. In the fall of 2001 I accepted a position in the Disney College Program. During the fall of 2000 and the spring of 2001 I spent time at my college's radio station cutting commercial and other production orders. I am expected to graduate in the fall of 2002 and plan on starting graduate school in the spring 2003. Although my intern and schoolwork keep me pretty busy, I would love the opportunity to return to Washington, DC to see the progress of the YAB.

Sebastian "C-BASS" Lopez
I have been very active since my return from the Young American Broadcasters conference in Washington D.C. I am currently a full time student at Cal State University Long Beach. Three days a month I go home and do a six-hour show at a commercial rock radio station named New Rock KMBY. I do six hours a day. During the Christmas break I will be going home for a week and will be doing the morning show. I am also working on an article on the presence of Latinos in Rock music for Fryction magazine in Santa Cruz Ca. I also have been active with a couple of bands performing music at the Rock Rose Art gallery and Café in Los Angeles Ca.

Lida Masoudpour
Since the YAB conference, the only big change in my life has been that I am interning at Talk Radio News Service during the spring semester. I also made Dean's List in the Fall. My expected date of graduation is December 2002.

Sonia Mohammed
has been a conservative political activist since 1994. She attended the University of Texas from 1994-1999, where her most significant activities included being the Chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas, the President of the pro-life group, a Legislative Representative of the UT Student Government at the Texas Legislature, and a founding board member of Students for Affordable Education, an organization dedicated to fiscal conservatism in higher education. Sonia was also the Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Contumacy, a conservative journal of the politics and culture of liberty which was designated as one of the nations top 10 independent student newspapers under her editorship. She has been selected as an Honors Fellow for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, the Institute for Humane Studies, and the Liberty Fund to study themes in political philosophy, economics, law, liberty, and morality. Sonia has worked as the Chief Aide to the Political Director of the Republican Party of Texas, as the Aide to the Executive Director of the American Family Association of Texas, and as a Competitive Intelligence Analyst for a high-tech firm. She has appeared on National Public Radios All Things Considered program, on Radio America, and numerous other radio stations to discuss her viewpoints. Most recently, Sonia was selected as the representative of the Young American Broadcasters to travel to Saudi Arabia with Blanquita Cullum as guests of Crown Prince Abdullah and the Royal Family. Sonia currently serves as the Legislative Director for a State Representative at the Texas Legislature.

Bernie Moreland
I am roughly 4 1/2 months (May 2002) from graduating with a Broadcasting/Electronic Media degree from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Currently, I work with Wallingford Broadcasting of Richmond. I am the night personality at "Real Country, 100.7, The "Coyote" and the future morning host at "Classic Hits and More, FX106.7." I also do commercial and voice production for these stations. After graduation, I plan on leaving Richmond and Wallingford and finding a programming/talent job. But, I don't know where that job is because I haven't found it yet.

Andre' Morton
My name is Andre' Morton. I was certified as a Young American Broadcaster in 2000. I am currently a graduate student at Bowling Green State University. I am working to obtain a Master's degree in Communication Studies (focus on Public Relations).

Matt McClearin
I just recently finished attending college at Southwest Texas State University and I am currently working at KTSA 550 AM in San Antonio as a part time talk radio host. In the meantime, I am living in the Dallas area searching for a full time radio gig somewhere and sending out my tapes all over the country. My future looks bright and I hope to achieve success in talk radio or have my own morning radio show. I would like to be nationally syndicated and work out of a Top 5 market. That's my goal. It's passion that drives me and will continue to drive me to reach the top and become a dominating radio personality. So, right now, I'm just looking for a good start out, the San Antonio gig works really well, but it doesn't pay the bills. Hopefully I will find something soon and begin to work my way up. That's all for now, not much, but then again, I'm still looking for something full time.

Caleb McDow
After leaving the Young American Broadcasters conference in Washington, DC last August, I returned to Auburn University and assumed the position of Program Director for WEGL. I also began hosting a weekly, call-in talk show
called "On the Air" from 8-10pm Thursday nights. The day after the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, our school organized a candlelight vigil on the front lawn of Samford Hall. During our live broadcast of the vigil, I was in the studio keeping our listening audience informed of the program and we had a reporter on location. Halloween was on interesting time for our school and station, since some fraternity Halloween parties were in the national news because of the racially oriented costumes some of the brothers wore. Following that instance we had the best "On the Air" of the season with many callers and some heated debate. Since the beginning of Spring semester I have overseen the printing of a Program Guide that we are distributing to students so they know when their favorite programs are on. This was the first printing of such an item in 3 years. I have also been selected to serve as Station General Manger for 2002-2003.

Alex Nicolas Paleologos
It's been a very intense year for me. From the September 11th tragedy, to a mass bombing plot in my high school (New Bedford High). I thank GOD everyday for giving me the strength to move on in life after these sad occurrences. I am currently producing a radio program on a local AM station (1420 AM...WBSM) while striving to maintain my other jobs as a cook at my family's restaurant...A clerk at a video store...and an "A" average at school! I must add that I am also the youngest Young American Broadcaster. A group devoted to giving young future broadcasters a "taste" of the radio industry, which I love very much!! I occasionally drop-in on my fathers nationally syndicated radio program, "American Breakfast," to update him and his listeners on the ever changing teen world! Some of my future goals include college, where I would like to continue my education in journalism and communications. I am also interested in the stock market and wish to learn more about opportunities there! Life changes so much as we grow older and it is a learning experience. Bob Dylan was right… "The times they are a-changin"

Vince Payne
Vince was selected to YAB's first and second classes. Since attending Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, he has become the most prolific award-winner in WMUL-FM's 40-plus year history (previous record was 37). Vince has won 80 awards for his radio work while in college including nine West Virginia Associated Press Awards for: Outstanding Sports Operation, News Feature Reporting, Public Affairs Reporting, Best Regularly Scheduled Newscast, Best Regularly Scheduled Sportscast, Best Sports Play-by-play, Best Documentary, Best Interview, and Best Presentation of News on the Web.

He his currently Station Manager and Online Director of WMUL-FM (88.1 MHz) just waiting receive his Masters Degree in December 2004. Over the past year he has served as News Anchor/Reporter; Sports Play-by-play Announcer for Marshall Football and Volleyball for WMUL-FM. Vince was hired by International Sports Properties (www.ispsports.com) to serve as Color Analyst and fill-in Play-by-play announcer for Marshall basketball on its 20-station network that can be heard in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and now Maryland.

He also attended last year's YAB conference as a speaker, and is a big fan of Ben Ferguson and Bennie "The Attorney."

Vince says hi to all the YABers, and says to E-mail him at herdfan2k1@hotmail.com.

Justin Santarelli
Justin Santarelli is co-host and Executive Producer of The Edwards & Santarelli Show, a highly rated variety show broadcast weekly from the heart of Yale's campus on WYBC New Haven (1340 AM). When he is not sharing common sense with listeners around the globe, Mr. Santarelli has been involved in a number of campus volunteer organizations, including the SMART mentoring program and the St. Thomas More Soup Kitchen. Mr. Santarelli is a senior at Yale University where he is a biology and German studies double-major, and he is a well-respected research assistant at Yale's neurosurgery department. Next year, Mr. Santarelli will be attending medical school.

Krystal Wilson
My name is Krystal S. Wilson, a 2000 YAB recipient. I am currently working on my M.B.A. and as a secretary at my alma mater, Alcorn State University. Because I started my own show, "Joints & Jams," where I did all the production work, last spring, I was chosen as the "Communications Student of the Year." For future references my email address is krystalswilson@hotmail.com and my phone number is (601) 877-2861 or (601) 639-4234.

For Internship information please mail or fax resume and cover letter to:

Nicole Crowley, Executive Director
Young American Broadcasters
1030 15th Street, NW Suite 1028
Washington, DC 20005

Phone 202.408.8255
Fax 202.408.5188