2025 Kellar Radio Talent Institute 

Application for Admission

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Institute Details:

• What: Kellar Radio Talent Institute
• Where: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
• When: Monday, June 9 - Saturday, June 14, 2025
• Attended By: College students, recent graduates, grad students, interns, and part-timers at radio or TV stations
• LIMITED CLASS SIZE: A maximum of 25
• Registration Cost (does not include housing or parking): $395 per person
• "In-Need" Scholarships are available
• Housing: On-campus housing is available for an additional cost.  
• Application Deadline: April 30, 2025

Qualifications:

• A GPA of 2.5 or higher (you can ask for a waiver if lower)
• A completed application form.
• The majority of the students who participate are or were communication, electronic media/broadcast or journalism majors or minors.  We have also had and welcome students from other majors including sales, business, marketing, public realtions, advertising, music, English, photography, accounting, etc.
• You DO NOT need to curently be enrolled in college but we do recommend college age applicants (18-27 years old).

Please have all of the following available when you begin your application:

1. Current resume
2. A few paragraphs that address the questions of :
   • Why you want to be in this program
   • Why you want to pursue a career in broadcasting
   • What you hope to gain by attending this institute
3. OPTIONAL: Air check, sales dialogue or other
   • If interested in on-air, programming and podcasting (news, sports, air talent, etc.), please submit a 2-4 minute audio or video air-check. See "How To Create an Aircheck".
   • If interested in sales or management, please submit a written sales presentation. See "How To Create a Sales Dialogue". 
   • Also, submit two references.
     • If interested in other aspects of broadcasting (IT or engineering, writing, promotions/marketing, broadcast law, video) you can submit material that represents your interests, it may be from a class project, podcast, blog, etc.
4. Please list the names, titles and contact information for two references.

Curriculum and subject matter: Will range from on-air performance to programming to sales, sports, news, management, production, promotions, social media, digital, video, podcasting, engineering, and practically all aspects of radio. The program will place emphasis on entry-level position preparation to help each student get their career started.

Materials: Each student will receive a notebook, containing the schedule of events, guest speaker bios and photos, Institute student bios and photos, etc., and a t-shirt and bag.

Computer: A laptop / tablet is required.

Acceptance: If accepted, you will be notified within one week of submission. You will then be prompted to register and finalize your acceptance. 

Housing:

If you do not have lodging during the 6 nights, Housing will be made on campus at an additional cost. Costs for housing will be posted by February 2025. University parking will be made available. You may select once your application is accepted and you are directed to register.

Check-in is Sunday, June 8, 2025

Check-out is Saturday, June 14, 2025

Please label all files with LAST NAME, FIRST NAME_FILE TYPE examples are below.

Smith, Johnny_Resume

Smith, Johnny_Essay

Smith, Johnny_Air Check

Smith, Johnny_Letter of Rec

The essay should address the following:
1--Why you want to be in this program
2--Why you want to pursue a career in broadcasting
3--What you hope to gain by attending this institute

How to create an air check

How to create a sales dialogue

 

Air Check

If interested in on-air, programming or podcasting(news, sports, air talent, etc), please submit a 2-4 minute air check. It can be on any topic you like. Make it about something you are into - whether it's news, sports, music, or anything else for which you are passionate. It can even be recorded on your phone.

Sales Dialogue

If interested in sales, management or other aspects of the industry, please submit resume and a written dialogue of a sales pitch and proposal.

Other

If interested in other aspects of broadcasting (IT or engineering, writing, promotions/marketing, broadcast law, video) you can submit material that represents your interests, it may be from a class project, podcast, blog, etc.

 

Please know that the National Radio Talent System has accepted students from various majors. It is beneficial, though not mandatory, that the student be a broadcast or communications major or minor and/or already work at the college radio station, or interned at a radio station.

Even so, we have accepted students from PR, accounting, business, english, marketing, photography, etc. who have completed the institute and are now working successfully in the broadcast industry. 

Scholarship
A limited number of partial and full registration scholarships are available.

If due to financial harships you are in need of a scholarship, please upload approximately a 500-word essay explaining why you should receive a scholarship. Your scholarship essay will be reviewed along with your completed application. Once your application is reviewed, we will notify you of whether or not you have been accepted into the Radio Talent Institute and if you will be receiving a scholarship to attend.

* If available, scholarships cover your registration fee. It might NOT include housing or parking. 

Returning Student

If you have successfully completed a previous Radio Talent Institute of the National Radio Talent System, you do not need to attach an essay or letter of recommendation. You do have to fill out the application and include an updated resume. It is preferred you update your air check or sales dialogue to attach as well, but it is not required.