Internship to broadcast journalism major’s big personality nationwide

(Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles about students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications completing summer internships.)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Heading into his senior year at Penn State, broadcast journalism major Cade Miller wanted to go big with his summer internship. He applied to SiriusXM, a “dream job” and the largest audio entertainment company in the world. He starts May 30.

Miller’s big ambitions match his big personality: Penn Staters may recognize Miller’s voice from his radio show on WKPS-FM The Lion or leading campus tours as a Lion Ambassador or emceeing the Homecoming Parade the last two years at the Allen Street Gates.

“More than any student in recent memory, I see Cade all over campus,” said Mike Poorman, director of alumni relations and instructor at the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. “He is definitely involved, but more importantly, he is making an impact.”

Miller is a self-proclaimed “Penn State person.” The blue-and-white spirit started in seventh grade, he said. He and his father attended the University’s own big show, a Penn State football game, and Miller was hooked.

“We sat in the Letterman section, which is right beside the student section,” he said. “And I remember when the team was running out of the gates, I turned to my dad and said, ‘This is where I'm going.’”

Miller received his Penn State offer a few years later while riding home the bus. He accepted and was an official Nittany Lion by the time he stepped off. “There was nowhere else I was going. I didn’t care,” he said.

Finding a home at the Bellisario College, Miller took full advantage of the many clubs and opportunities, including the student-run radio stations — The Lion FM and CommRadio. He also enjoyed his radio and podcasting courses, and spent much of the past semester working on an in-depth podcast episode on the late Penn State football legend Franco Harris.

“We're telling a whole narration of his [Harris'] life and his philanthropy, his ideas and his relationships with people, his friendships and his teammates,” Miller said. “And I think that's really cool.”

Poorman said that despite having a full schedule, Cade is always a “yes” man. His availability and spirit drive whatever he is involved in.

“An alum needs a personal tour? [Cade says] ‘Yes.’ Help with a prospective student panel? ‘Yes.’ Having a great day? ‘Yes,’” Poorman said.

“Is the Bellisario College fortunate to have Cade?” Poorman added. “Yes.”

The big internship

Entering the second semester of his junior year, Miller was missing one important piece to his resume — a big internship. And just like there was one college choice, he said, he had his sights on only one company for an internship.

Growing up in Inwood, West Virginia, Miller was raised on music. In the house or in the car, his family always had the radio on. “There was never silence,” he said. At first it was FM radio, so it was a game-changer when the family got SiriusXM.

Miller fell in love with the uninterrupted and commercial-free channels. He enjoyed the country, pop and theater stations, which kick-started his passion for entertainment. He brought that energy to Penn State and the Bellisario College. So, he said, when it was time to look for internships, SiriusXM was the goal.

“SiriusXM is such a great name. It’s one of the big ones,” he said. “I want to go into radio, and when radio is the place you want to be, SiriusXM is the company to work for.”

Miller applied to several positions at each of the company’s five locations. He got an interview with the offices in Washington, D.C., and the following day, he was offered a position. Miller will be working on programming for stations that don’t have a host. He will also create promotions and other content for some of the stations he grew up listening to, like Prime Country.

“I will be queuing music and maybe doing some editing,” Miller said. “They asked about editing in the interview, and I told them Penn State gives us Adobe Audition. They said that was good because that’s what they use.”

Miller said he hopes to end the summer with more refined editing skills and a better idea of how music trends happen. He said he looks up to DJs like Cam “Buzz” Brainard, host of The Highway, a country music station on SiriusXM. Miller’s dream is to be a host who plays music and interviews celebrities, and he hopes this internship will be another step toward that goal.

‘A dynamic force’

For a brief time, Miller was interested in a career in cybersecurity, but family and friends knew his personality was too big for that. They would often tell him “You can’t sit behind a computer all day. You need to be talking to people.” That led him to join a broadcasting show and call sporting events in high school. From there, his friendly, outgoing attitude could shine.

“Cade is a dynamic force in the room,” said Mara Ryan, associate director of student and young alumni communities for the Penn State Alumni Association. “He is able to attract attention and keep interest of those around him. I also find Cade observant. He listens and takes in what is going on.”

Ryan is an adviser for Lion Ambassadors. Along with Poorman, she said Miller’s effort and attitude, as well as his willingness to learn and try new things, will catapult him to whatever heights his career leads.

“Radio, TV, Homecoming Week and the parade, student government, campus tours, admissions,” Poorman said. “Cade Miller is everywhere.”

This summer, Miller will really be everywhere, broadcasting coast to coast from the big internship he always wanted.