Degree: B.A. Radio and Podcasting
Occupation: Broadcast systems engineer at Public Media Engineering
Experiential learning: Internship at Public Media Engineering
Campus involvement: 107.7 The Bronc, orientation leader, tour guide, Theta Chi
On-air with The Bronc
When Owen McCarron 鈥26 first saw 107.7 The Bronc, he knew he wanted to be part of the student-run station. Over the course of his time at Rider, he built up his skills to become the station鈥檚 student chief engineer while also building a presence as an on-air personality.
But his success didn鈥檛 come from nowhere. It was cultivated by John Mozes, general manager of 107.7 The Bronc and executive director of Rider鈥檚 Student Media Center. Mozes saw McCarron鈥檚 strengths and guided him toward the technical side of broadcasting.
鈥淗e explained to me, 鈥楾here are people who don鈥檛 have the patience for this, and there are people who do, and you鈥檙e one of them,鈥 McCarron says. 鈥淚 took that very appreciatively, and I ran for it, and I honestly haven鈥檛 looked back since.鈥
Interning with Public Media Engineering
With the broadcasting, problem-solving and technical skills he developed at 107.7 The Bronc, McCarron began an internship with Public Media Engineering. While he assumed his internship would be more about watching and learning, he was quickly proven wrong.
鈥淏y my third week, I was being taught how to actually build equipment that we鈥檙e surrounded by every day in the broadcasting world,鈥 he says.
Upon graduation, McCarron moved to a full-time role at Public Media Engineering as a broadcast systems engineer, where he is helping to maintain and install broadcasting equipment for clients such as the Spanish Broadcasting System and MediaCo.
Rider鈥檚 impact
The Bronc wasn't his only experience at Rider that helped McCarron get to where he is 鈥 he also served as an orientation leader, Admissions tour guide, Greek ambassador and leader in Theta Chi fraternity. This all helped him grow more confident in his abilities to connect with others, lead and take on new challenges.
鈥淩ider really does just serve it all to you on a platter,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hey give you the tools for success, and they say, 鈥楾ake them.鈥 And when you take them, and get as involved as a lot of students on campus are, that鈥檚 really what helps you grow.鈥