When Muskingum University’s graduation takes place on May 4, Orbit Media will be bidding farewell to three seniors. All three seniors have played a pivotal role in Orbit Media serving as the sports director, video director, and program director.
Darrell Ponder graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree in athletics communication and sports administration with a minor in sports coaching. Ponder has served as Orbit Media’s sports director for the last two years, providing voice to the majority of sportscasts.
“Orbit Media has really just gave my voice made me a better well-rounded person. It’s helped me to expand my horizons and learn other aspects of media instead of just sports,” said Ponder. “I’m forever forever thankful.”
Ponder plans to return to his home in Texas where he will work at his local Chili’s over the summer to save money and look for a job in media in Houston. The reality of his time at Muskingum coming to an end didn’t hit him until the last two weeks of the semester as he started looking back on what he’d miss.
“I’m going miss the conversations from [the Orbit Media] newsroom in-between class. I’ll miss…the camaraderie I share with everybody on [Orbit Media] staff, and I mean overall I’m going to miss being part of staff…,” said Ponder.
Emma Snide will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and media production. Snide served as Orbit Media’s video director and vice president. In this role she’s overseen productions of “Orbit News Shorts” and worked on short films like “100 Hours” as the costume designer.
“Orbit Media has done so much that I can’t even describe, but I’m going to try,” said Snide. “Orbit Media is providing me like a place where I can be myself in a place on campus that I feel that I can go to for friends.
Snide plans to head home to Columbus after graduation. She plans to obtain her driver’s license while searching for a job in theatre or media production.
The final senior to be leaving Muskingum and Orbit Media is the program director and president, Kailyn Shalosky. She’s performed this role for two years and previously served as the news director and music director.
“I think knowing that I wanted to join Orbit Media when I came to Muskingum really gave me a place to like plant seeds and grow immediately,” said Shalosky. “So, I think that’s exactly what I did and it gave me a bunch of leadership opportunities, but it also gave to me a voice and also a home at the same time.”
Orbit Media’s Program Director Kailyn Shalosky is graduating in May 2024. Shalosky has been a member of Orbit Media for four years.
Some of Shalosky’ s projects include “Muskingum on the Move” where she interviewed Muskingum University President Susan S. Hasseler throughout the school year and “Giving Voice,” interviewing members from clubs and organizations on campus.
Shalosky will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in media production and theatre. She will be continuing her education at Ohio University to pursue a master’s degree in arts administration.
“I think my biggest achievement is honestly just going to college in general because I’m a first-generation college student,” said Shalosky.
“So doing not only one but two majors, which means two seminars, which means double the work and two creative art fields is kind of like creatively exhausting. So I feel like that is my biggest achievement, is being able to say that I did that. I’m the first person in my family to do that, said Shalosky”
These three seniors were instrumental in Orbit Media’s success including the two consecutive Spirit of College Radio awards. On behalf of Orbit Media, I’d like to congratulate Ponder, Snide, and Shalosky and wish them the best of luck.
Watch and listen to Muskingum University Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 4 on WMCO 90.7 and Orbit TV.
