WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NAB Leadership Foundation (NABLF) has shared the Class of 2026 participants for its two flagship collegiate programs, the Media Sales Academy (MSA) and the Technology Apprenticeship Program (TAP). These workforce development initiatives are designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for careers in broadcasting.
“With our MSA and TAP programs, our goals are to increase job readiness for young people and strengthen the hiring pipeline for local stations who need to fill sales and engineering roles,” said NABLF President Michelle Duke. “Upon graduation, the students in our programs will be at the forefront of merging broadcasting’s infrastructure with new technologies to advance our industry. We are excited about seeing them enter the broadcasting workforce.”
In response to the industry’s need for entry-level, multi-skilled workers who can take broadcasting into the future, the foundation has added topics such as AI literacy and ethics, content creation and critical thinking to all program curriculums. The programs also provide immersive, real-world training by placing students in paid internships at local stations.
MSA is supported by Capitol Broadcasting Company, Graham Media Group, Gray Television, Hearst Television, Holle Foundation, iHeartMedia, Katz Media Group, Knight Foundation, Nielsen Foundation, Procter & Gamble, Sinclair and TEGNA, with program partnership support from the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB).
TAP is supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Black Dragon Capital, IEEE Broadcast Technology Society (BTS), For A Bright Future Foundation, Graham Media Group, Grass Valley, Hearst Television, Holle Foundation, Knight Foundation, NEP, Sinclair and Xperi, with program partnership support provided by the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE).
MSA Class of 2026
Adalyn Gully – University of Maryland–College Park
Aliah Dosunmu – Georgia State University
Ben Dreyer – University of South Carolina–Columbia
Billy Wikol – West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Chhaya Pennant – Xavier University of Louisiana
Curtis Townsend – Ferris State University
Elisha Lebeau – Temple University
Imani McCune – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Jakiyah Smart – University of Louisiana at Monroe
Kynedi Nichols – Southern University and A&M College
Lilly Chin – Virginia Commonwealth University
Lundon Hidalgo – University of Southern Mississippi
Parker Tungate – Ferris State University
Radhika Ukidave – Rutgers University–Newark
Seaaera James – Talladega College
Shamima Ahmed – Babson College
Sheila Ojuro – Hampton University
Sparkle Lawson – Howard University
Sumaya Kashem – New York University
Venus Jamison – University of Illinois Chicago
Warsi Gebrehiwet – Virginia Commonwealth University
Zacharias Ezana – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
TAP Class of 2026
Abel Assefa – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Abiola Ajayi Samuel – Texas Southern University
Aldo Medina – University of Michigan–Dearborn
Alexander Villagomez – University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Alexandra Bueno Rivera – Arizona State University
Amlake Tamrat – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Andrea Baciu – Northampton County Area Community College
Araya Lemma – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Bryan Ogun – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Carolina Milan Martinez – Arizona State University
Daniel Rudolph – Omega Studios’ School of Applied Recording Arts & Sciences
Dennis Bailey – CUNY Hunter College
Dieu Huong (Alex) Nguyen – Dickinson College
Edlawit Gide – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Emiliano Lievanos – Oxnard College
Emmanuel Sema – University of Maryland Global Campus
Evan Berger – University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
Gabrielle Small – University of Central Florida
Gracy Patel – SUNY Buffalo State University
Hamna Hareem – Community College of Baltimore County
Hannah Yap – University of Nevada–Las Vegas
Jacob Porras – University of Illinois Chicago
Jamie Salcedo – George Mason University
Jashaun Sayles – Old Dominion University
Judith Anya – Mercy University
Kidus Asgedom – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Kirubel Dula – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Lee Cusack – Hofstra University
Luis Hernandez-Rivera – George Mason University
Marvin Rhodes – University of West Florida
Matthew Lezhansky – University of California-Merced
Miguel Mercedes – CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Muhammad Khan – Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Nathnael Minuta – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Susan Xiao – The University of Alabama
Taj John – CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College
Tebibu Kebede – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Tihitina Ayele – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Tinsay Gebremariam – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Uzra Syeda – Trine University
Wainaina Wainaina – Kennesaw State University
Yabsir Suga – Minnesota State University–Mankato
Yash Patel – SUNY Buffalo State University
Zara White – University of California–Merced
Zyan Pesantes – New Jersey Institute of Technology
For more information about the Foundation’s educational programs, visit nabfoundation.org.
