Benjamin Payne '16: Where has your A taken you?

For Benjamin Payne '16, his Augie "A" paved the way for a career in radio journalism. He writes about his post-Augustana journey:

"Augustana's forward-thinking journalism program, experienced faculty and close relationship with WVIK all helped me get to where I am today, and for that I am deeply grateful. When I decided to transfer to Augie after earning my associate degree from Black Hawk College in 2014, little did I know that it would set me down an exciting path toward public radio. By the time of my graduation in 2016, the college had helped equip me with a wealth of professional skills and real-world experiences that proved essential to my entry into the field.

Now, as the Savannah-based reporter for Georgia Public Broadcasting, I cover coastal Georgia for a statewide NPR network serving audiences on air and online throughout the Peach State. I also occasionally report stories nation- ally for NPR. My stories have taken me everywhere from federal courthouses to sea-turtle habitats to the home ballpark of the Savannah Bananas (often described as baseball’s Harlem Globetrotters) and beyond!

So, where exactly is this Augie "A" selfie? Savannah’s beautiful Forsyth Park fountain. Don’t worry: the water isn’t normally green; rather, it’s dyed for St. Patrick’s Day. This photo was actually taken just after the city’s popular parade — made even more popular by the fact that this year marked the parade’s 200th anniversary. I was feeling quite festive, having just reported a feature about the inaugural 1824 festivities. I like to think it would make both my Augie journalism and history professors happy!"

If you would like an Augustana "A," send us your information by visiting augustana.edu/getyoura.