c Kellar Media Career Academy

Your career starts now in Podcasting, On Air, Streaming, News/Talk, Sports, Social Media, Sales, Marketing, Promotions and more!

Kellar Media Career Academy June 8 - 13, 2026.


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Kellar Media Career Academy™ at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina creates opportunities for new and emerging careers in media.  It is truly an incubator of well-rounded, well-educated college students, or recent graduates with a passion for media and a determination to get into the business.

The National Radio Talent System™ is made up of multiple talent academies at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Each academy brings in industry professionals from around the country as Guest Speakers who bring their real-world knowledge to this intensive 6-day summer program.

Kellar Media Career Academy™ at App State is the campus-to-career connection most students need to begin their broadcast career, each not only learning from the dozens of pros but are able to network with them individually. This proves invaluable, as most will otherwise never have such an opportunity to meet and speak with these professionals. Likewise, these pros already have an introduction to these students who are available for open positions.

Upon completion of the academy, students will further their networking opportunities with access the National Radio Talent System's Career Center. This is where those in the industry are able to discover and hire NRTS graduates, who very likely, will be tomorrow's industry leaders.

Here are some of the academy highlights (See Curriculum for more)
  • Now is the Time to Start Thinking Like a Pro
  • Radio's Digital Content & Social Media
  • Programming Sports Talk Radio
  • How to Get In and Win
  • Marketing and Promotions - Doing It Right
  • Basics of Great Voice Work and Production
  • Goal Setting & Time Management
  • Doing It Live & Voice Tracking
  • How to Get a Good Job
  • How to Do A Great Talk Radio Show
  • Basics of Doing a Great Music Radio Show
  • Music Scheduling: How & Why
  • Sales & Marketing

Daily Curriculum

*Subject to change*
8:45AM - 9:00AM Welcome and Opening Remarks

Carolyn Edy
Dave Blanks
Appalachian State University
9:00AM - 10:15AM Building Brand You

Jeff Schmidt, RAB
10:15AM - 11:30AM Making Yourself Valuable

Ashley Wilson, iHeartMedia
11:45AM - 12:45PM Lunch
12:45PM - 1:45PM Selling Radio Today Versus 10 Years Ago

Jacque Freeman, RadioOne
2:00PM - 3:15PM Local News, Trust

Mark Garrison, WBT
3:15PM - 4:30PM How to Get Your Foot in the door

Graham Burn, iHeartMedia
4:30PM - 5:30PM Social Hour at Riverstreet Ale House

8:45AM - 9:00AM Announcements Dave Blanks, Appalachian State University
9:00-10:15am

Multiplatform Media: A 360 View Of Content Creation Creation (Virtual)

 Mike McVay
McVay Media
10:15-11:30m Social Media Kaitlyn Smith, iHeartMedia
11:45 - 12:45PM Lunch
12:45-1:45pm How Radio Works in 2026 Trevor Morini, iHeartMedia
2:00PM -3:15PM Resume and Interview Skills Lisa Fields, Media Staffing Network
3:15PM - 4:30PM Old Media, New Media & Political Coverage Brett Jensen, WBT
4:30PM - 5:30PM Social Hour at Riverstreet Ale House

6:30AM Board Bus at App State for Charlotte
8:45AM Arrive atBank of America Stadium  
9:00-11:00AM Carolina Panthers Sports Broadcasting

Matt Hogan, Executive Producer
11:00am Board Bus for WBTV  
11:15AM - 12:15PM WBTV - TV Station Tour John Carter, WBTV
12:15PM - 1:00PM Lunch at WBTV
1:00PM Board Bus for iHeartMedia  
1:20PM - 3:15PM iHeartMedia Station Tour Trevor Morini, iHeartMedia
2:15-2:45pm Tour Stadium & Broadcast Facilities
3:15PM Depart for Appalachian State University

8:45AM - 9:00AM Opening Announcements Dave Blanks, Appalachian State University
9:00-10:15am College Station Tour - Hands on Dave Blanks, Appalachian State University
10:15-11:30AM Multimedia/Multi Department Efficiency and Effectiveness Randi Moultrie
Leslie Baylor
Ms. Jessica
Beasley Media Group
11:45AM - 12:45PM Lunch
12:45PM - 1:45PM Finding the Right Mentor to Help You Find the Right Job John Shomby, Country's Radio Coach, Inc.
2:00PM - 3:15PM Audio Production/Podcasting Nicky Redl, Appalachian State University
3:15PM - 4:30PM Student Project Kellar Student Groups
4:30PM - 5:30PM Social Hour at Riverstreet Ale House

6:00=9:00am Kiss 95.1 Live Morning Show Maney & LauRen, Beasley Media Group
9:00-10:15AM Sales + Programming: Teamwork For Successful Marketing Strategies Kyle Presley, iHeartMedia
10:15AM - 11:30AM Building Your Own Door: How to Create Opportunities in Sports Media Kaiden Smith, On3
11:45AM - 12:45PM Lunch
12:45PM - 1:45PM Day in the Life of a Multimedia Seller Jason Huddle, Beasley Media Group
2:00PM - 3:15PM Student to Superstar Dan Vallie, Legendary Broadcast Veteran
3:15PM - 4:00PM Awarding of Certificates and Closing Remarks Carolyn Edy, Appalachian State University
Dave Blanks, Appalachian State University
Jeff Schmidt, RAB

Industry Pros Who've Spoken at Kellar Media Career Academy


Jared & Katie

Jared and Katie in the Morning
107.5 KZL
Dick Broadcasting, Greensboro

Mac Edwards

VP/Market Manager
Beasley Media Group, Charlotte

Leslie Baylor

Director of Marketing
Beasley Media Group, Charlotte

Mark Garrison

Hots/Reporter
1110AM/99.3FM WBT News/Talk
Radio One, Charlotte

Suzanne Carrol

General Sales Manager
Beasley Media Group, Charlotte

Sam Farber

Play-by-Play Announcer
NBA Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte

Randi Moultrie

Digital Program Director
Beasley Media Group, Charlotte

Melanie Day

Digital Content Director
Beasley Media Group, Charlotte

Adam Witten

Vice President Broadcast Operations
Learfield, Winston-Salem

Craig Mundy

Senior Account Manager
iHeartMedia, Charlotte

Tom Neely

Digital Sales Manager
Beasley Media Group, Charlotte

Kellar Media Career Academy Grads Say It Best!


Monica Arneja

Simone Feast

Brooke Byron

Hunter Bostain

Frequently Asked Questions

The Kellar Media Career Academy is an intense 5-day program held on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in partnership with National Radio Talent System.

National Radio Talent System is the only program of its kind in the world. It’s a system of career academies on college campuses across America. Its mission is to discover, coach and nurture the next generations of professionals in the industry.

The National Radio Talent System brings elite media professionals from across the region to Kellar Media Career Academy. Over five days of interactive sessions, you will immerse yourself in the industry while networking, mingling and learning directly from seasoned pros. The curriculum spans much of the media landscape, offering hands-on in-studio training in podcasting, production, on-air performance and branding alongside specialized training in news, sports, social content and TV anchoring. You will also gain business insights into, streaming, sales and marketing.

After completion of the Kellar Media Career Academy, you are highlighted on the National Radio Talent System website to broadcasters regionally and nationally. 70% of students who attend the Kellar Media Career Academy get their first job in media after graduation.

YES. You don’t have to choose one or the other. To date, every radio station has allowed their interns to break away from the internship for six days to participate in the Kellar Media Career Academy.

All college students, recent graduates and grad students from all universities in the state and region and interns and part-timers at radio or TV stations are welcomed. A total of 25 students are accepted on a rolling acceptance, so the earlier you apply, the better your chances.

The National Radio Talent System provides a “Certificate of Completion” from the Kellar Media Career Academy and a “Radio Marketing Professional” certification from RAB.

A $200 registration fee is paid after you are notified of acceptance, and that cost includes a meal card for lunch to use during the 5 days. Housing, if needed, is available on campus for an extra fee.

You may cancel your registration and request a refund for the Kellar Media Career Academy at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC by May 15th.

About Kellar Media Career Academy



Art Kellar

Art KellarThrough the support of lifetime broadcaster Art Kellar, The National Radio Talent System and Appalachian State University are proud to present Kellar Media Career Academy, committed to discovering and preparing a new generation of broadcast professionals.

Kellar stated, "There is a need to bring fresh talent into the industry at every level, to contribute to make the industry even more dynamic, and there are plenty of people in the industry that want to help young people enter the industry and be successful."

Kellar became a disc jockey in Ronceverte, West Virginia. He told an interviewer, "I got off the train and walked the two blocks to the [radio] station, and when I walked inside my very first thought was, I've got to own one of these."

Kellar founded O.K. Broadcasting in 1956 and that year purchased his first radio station, WEEL-AM in Fairfax, Virginia. In the 1960s and 1970s, WEEL was one of the Washington area's most popular Top 40 stations.  In 1967, he founded EZ Communications, Inc., which eventually owned and operated 26 AM and FM stations across the United States.

In 1996, after the easing of deregulation rules, EZ Communications merged with Boston-base 2b4d d American Radio Systems, Inc. (ARS), sealing a $655 million deal that made the resulting company the second largest station operator in the country. Kellar retired shortly afterward.

His radio stations entertained millions of people, from Seattle to Miami, from Philadelphia to Phoenix. With very little capital, and lots of work, foresight, vision, and talent, he built a company worth more than $500 million.

Woody Allen of Allen Financial Services commented, A mark of his greatness is the number of people who have better lives because of him; an even greater mark is that, oftimes, the recipient of his generosity never knew that it was Art who provided it."

If there ever was a real gentleman, a person who said 'I'll do this' and who always did it, it was Art Kellar. He was a man among men, if I might use that old cliche. I was so enthused when I heard the idea of this academy that I wanted to do anything that we could possibly do to make it successful, because anything that Art Kellar had his hands on was always done to perfection.

George Beasley - Founder - and former Chairman and CEO - Beasley Broadcast Group


Art was always reaching out to help others, and would go out of his way to do it. I always appreciated his willingness to give through what God had blessed him with. He cared.

Joe Gibbs, Former Coach, Washington Commanders, Owner Joe Gibbs Racing


Appalachian State University

Appalachian is a special place. Our location in Boone, North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, a place of great beauty abundant with cultural and recreational opportunities, profoundly shapes how our community lives, works and learns together. Once you become a part of our community, you never really leave.

Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

Appalachian was founded in 1899. The pioneering spirit necessary to overcome the mountains’ hardships quickly characterized the institution, giving Appalachian a special niche in higher education that continues today. After more than a century, students still feel the pull of this unique place to transform their lives, and Appalachian has remained focused on providing students with educational experiences that are not only life-changing but world-changing.

Appalachian State University

Our Mission


Kellar Media Career Academy attracts, trains and creates opportunity for talented, enthusiastic and well educated young adults who have a passion for the broadcast industry. College students, recent graduates, grad students, interns and part-timers at radio or TV stations work through an intensive 10-days to bring them to a better understanding of each aspect of the industry, including on-air, programming, writing, news, sports and sales; all students also participate in RAB training and take the exam to earn their Radio marketing Professional Certification.

Kellar Media Career Academy prepares the students to excel in entry-level positions upon their graduation, and better ensures they get a start in and have a successful career in broadcasting.

Part of the goal is to prepare students, along with their Liberal Arts education, to the point that they can walk into a professional radio station environment and not only be comfortable, but to excel in every area of the business, from on-air to programming to sales to management ... we expect no less than to prepare a future generation of broadcast leaders.

We look to attract the brightest of the brightest students to bring fresh talent into the industry who can contribute to make the industry even more dynamic.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding applying or need assistance in any way, please don't hesitate to contact us directly.

Appalachian State Contact



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