Destination Success | Wendell Epps | Watch HPU

Chapters & Transcript

0:00

My name is Wendell Epps. I'm from Fairfax, Virginia. I was a sports media major, graduated in May of 2023, and now I'm currently with the Orlando Magic as a radio graduate associate.

So as part of being a radio graduate associate for the Magic, I work all 82 of their broadcast both home and away, and I do a range of things from being their producer to also being their pregame and postgame show radio post. I also cut up a lot of highlights for them postgame audio as well. So it's a multitude of things, just being able to help out the radio broadcast in any way that I possibly can.

0:38

So as an aspiring sports broadcaster coming into High Point in 2019, I knew I wanted to announce games right away. And I was given that opportunity right away with sports link. They gave me the chance to be able to be a play-by-play broadcaster for the women's Soccer Team. I'll never forget it. Literally, a month into my college career I went ahead during family weekend and announced a women's soccer game. A goal was scored in the first 30 seconds of the game, and really, that experience just allowed me to be able to build up what I became known for, which was the voice of High Point Athletics for my 4 years here.

There's not too many colleges where you can get the chance to be on ESPN plus right away as a freshman, especially doing something as difficult as play byplay. And you know, one opportunity sort of led to another. As soon as I found that, you know, you didn't have to be a junior or senior to dive into these things, uh I knew that anything was possible. And I wanted to get a jump start as quickly as I could.

1:22

I remember coming into high point being able to meet all the professors right away. I remember in the sports media realm I had uh Dr Patrick McConnell. I had Dr Bobby Hayes early on, uh and they really just instilled a lot of great values to me. Professor Jim Scott was also amazing as well. Eventually you know, getting to know Bob Ryan and sit Marshal throughout the years as well was incredible.

You don't get these opportunities at other schools like you don't get a chance to be on ESPN plus as a freshman at 18, 19 years old at another school. You don't get the opportunity to be a leader in some of these clubs until you're Junior and Senior year at a lot, a lot of other schools but here at High Point you know, you can be a sophomore and already be on the EC for a respective club. And I just think having those opportunities to be a leader, to Showcase your value early on and also to have mentors and have people not just professors but your classmates as well that can help you out.

2:09

The big advice I'd give to students is just get involved right away because the sky's the limit. You know, there's no age limit, there's no, you know, requirement of what you can or cannot do. Uh, you're your own person, you can write your own story, and you have the opportunity to do something that's never been done before.

2:24

I think the skill that's really helped me set apart is versatility. I mean, the classes that I've been able to take, you know, help me. I remember especially with Dr Hayes like his Sports reporting classes helped me tremendously. We got to cover the high point basketball team when I took his class, and now I cover the Orlando Magic, and I still take the same exact, you know, tips that Dr Hayes gave me about how it's like to cover a team.

2:42

I would say the big thing is don't be afraid to ask, you know, whether it's asking for an opportunity, asking for an informational interview. Just asking can go a long way. Cuz the worst thing that someone can do is say no.

And you know, I think if I had gotten that advice even earlier in my college career, freshman year, you know, that would have helped me set me up for even more success than I've already been able to achieve. So I think you just never know what opportunities are going to come, people are willing to help you. You know, I know it can be daunting and scary, especially when you first step foot on this campus, but this is such a welcoming environment and everyone's here to help each other every single day.

3:15

Choose to be extraordinary means thinking outside of the box, whether it's doing something that's never been done before, doing something that a lot of people have talked about but have never really done, and just taking initiative to be a leader, to be someone that, you know, can be classified as unique and does some creative things.

Wendell Epps, a High Point University alumnus with a degree in sports media, shares his journey to becoming a radio graduate associate with the Orlando Magic. He highlights how HPU's unique opportunities enabled him to gain real broadcasting experience, including announcing games on ESPN Plus as a freshman. Epps emphasizes the importance of asking for opportunities and credits his professors' mentorship with building the versatile career skills that continue to serve him professionally.

Destination Success | Wendell Epps

Destination Success | Wendell Epps

How does High Point University prepare you for a career?

How do HPU students get sports broadcasting experience?

How do High Point University professors mentor students?

What is the best advice for new college students?

How do High Point University classes build career skills?

Why is it important to ask for career opportunities?

What does it mean to choose to be extraordinary?