Skip to main content
 
MenuMenu
  • uky.edu
  • uknow
  • seeblue.
  • myUK
  • MAP
  • directory
  • search
Home
  • About
    CI Staff Council
    College Excellence Awards
    Dean's Office Directory
    Facts
    History
    Mission
    Programs
    Accreditations
    FERPA
    FERPA for Parents/Guardians
    Dean's Welcome
    College Strategic Plan 2015-2020
  • Students
    Admissions
    Scholarships
    FERPA
    Career Resources
    Student Blogs
    Distance Learning
    Education Abroad
    Internships

    Degrees

    About Degrees
    - Undergraduate Majors
    - Minors and Certificates
    - Masters
    - Doctorate
    - Graduate Certificates
    - University Scholars

    Programs

    About Programs
    - Department of Communication
    - Department of Integrated Strategic Communication
    - Graduate Program in Communication
    - School of Journalism and Media
    - School of Information Science

    Student Advising

    Student Advising
    Undergraduate Admissions Policy
    Advising Resources
    Graduation Requirements
    Declare a Major
    FAQs
  • Alumni & Friends
    • National Advisory Board
    • Alumni Bookshelf
    • Alumni Class Notes
    • Featured Alumni
    • Engagement
    • Pulitzer Prize Winners
    • Update Form
    • Alumni Contact
  • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • College Directory
    • Facilities
    • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • Office of Research
    • Research Programs
  • Giving
    Fellows
    Mission, Vision and Goals

    Are you ready?

    give now button

    Types of Gifts

    Types of Gifts
    - Endowments
    - Scholarships

    About Giving to CI

    Who Your Gift Benefits
    How to Give to the College
    Giving Contact
  • News & Media
    Expert Guide
    Press Releases
    Event Calendar
    CI Stories

    CI on Facebook  CI on Twitter  CI on Instagram  CIS on Linkedin  CI on UKNow  Vimeo

  • Visit
    • Visit the College
    • Student Ambassadors
    • Preview Nights
    • Living Learning Programs
  • About
  • Students
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Faculty and Staff Resources
  • Giving
  • News & Media
  • Visit

You are here

Home » Featured Alumni

Keith Elkins

Major: 
Media Arts and Studies (formerly Telecommunications)
Year Graduated: 
1974
Hometown: 
Bedford, Indiana
Current City: 
Lexington, Kentucky
Current Employer: 
Radio Broadcaster for the Lexingto Legends
Top played song on your playlist?: 
I like bluegrass and traditional country, and also enjoy a bluegrass jam now and then, playing banjo or guitar  – top played songs recently could include “Ramblin’ Fever” by Merle Haggard, but almost anything  by Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings,
Where has your CI degree taken you?: 

I have stayed in the communications field for all these years, with a couple of very brief exceptions. I have worked in radio, starting as a student at WBKY, now WUKY, and also with WMIK in Middlesboro, Kentucky. (My first play-by-play opportunity was in my senior year at UK – 1973-74 – with WBKY, which used to do live broadcasts of UK home football and basketball games.)   

I was in television sports and news with WLEX-TV in Lexington (1976-81) and WJTV in Jackson, Mississippi (81-82). I worked with UK two times, from 1983-89 in public relations as director of radio/TV news, and as director of communications in the College of Engineering from 2003-2008.

I also served as director of public relations for Transylvania University from 1989-92.

And I had a great experience in marketing communications from 1995-2003 with Wyncom, Inc. of Lexington. Wyncom marketed and produced business seminars around the nation presented by some of the leading business authors and speakers at the time, such as Stephen Covey, Tom Peters and Ken Blanchard.  Wyncom also produced programs delivered around the world via satellite.  Most who worked there would say it was a great adventure and a unique work experience. 
The opportunity with the Legends allowed me to do something I had wanted to do since childhood – broadcast baseball on radio.  Most minor league broadcasters are a lot younger than I am, but none of them has enjoyed the experience any more than I have.  It’s been just as much fun – maybe more—than I thought it would be.

But my education gave me a foundation to do a variety of work for different organizations, even though all the jobs were in the communications field. I’ve also done a lot of freelance work, which enabled to me to be involved in broadcasting and writing outside of the full-time jobs.

What is your favorite thing about your job?: 

Even on my worst day, I’m working at a ballpark! I traveled with the Legends for six years, doing the play-by-play for the full 140-game schedule, including 70 games on the road at all the stops around the South Atlantic League. The travel could be difficult, but I never sat down to call a game and wished I was somewhere else. There’s probably not much middle ground about working in minor league baseball – you have to love it, or you’ll want to move on after a short time.

What¹s the most valuable thing you learned in CI?: 

Good writing and speaking skills will serve you well throughout your life.

What advice would you give to current CI students?: 

Look for extra learning opportunities, not only in internships, but in some of those jobs that students have to take that are often not in your area of interest. Keep your eyes and ears open in those situations, and you can gain knowledge that will be valuable to you.  How does your boss go about his/her work?  What can you learn from their people skills (or lack of)?  Network as much as you can – and remember that making a lot of contacts is not of value unless you’re making a good impression on those contacts.  “Who you know” can be valuable, but what they know about you is much more valuable.

Other Featured Alumni

Hannah Ellis
Songwriter/Artist 
Integrated Strategic Communication
2012
Ashley Westerman
Producer, NPR's "Morning Edition"
Journalism
2010
Chad Yelton
Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Integrated Strategic Communication
1997
Kevin Haney
IT Help Desk Technician at Tesla
Information Communication Technology
2016
Amanda Stamper
Director of Communications/Spokeswoman for KY Governor Matt Bevin
Integrated Strategic Communication
2005
Eric Gregory
President, Kentucky Distillers’ Association
Communication
1994
Rick Maynard
Senior Manager, Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Tempur Sealy
Journalism
1989
Michael Morgan
University of Kentucky HealthCare
Information Communication Technology
2016
Alecia Whitaker
Young adult author
Integrated Strategic Communication
2002
Blair Helwig
Associate Director at CBS Sports
Journalism
2013
J.D. Shelburne
Country Music Artist (touring)
Telecommunications (now Media Arts and Studies)
2007
Brad Hebebrand
Senior Global Creative Director at Under Armour
Advertising (now Integrated Strategic Communication)
1997
Ashley York
Filmmaker; Lecturer in the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California
Journalism
2002
Ty Halpin
Associate Director of Championships and Alliances, National Collegiate Athletic Association
Journalism
1996
Earl F. "Marty" Martin
President, Drake University
Communication
1984
Michelle Milam
Mars, Inc. Associate Brand Manager
Integrated Strategic Communication
2010
Cathy Black
CBS News, Senior Producer, Broadcast Marketing
Telecommunications (now Media Arts & Studies)
1985
Scott Tomlin
Director of Basketball Communications for the Dallas Mavericks
Communication
2002
Bryan Kennedy
Reporter/Anchor with WXXV-TV News 25
Broadcast Journalism
2010

  • Units

  • Department of Communication

  • Integrated Strategic Communication

  • School of Journalism and Media

  • School of Information Science

  • Graduate Program in Communication
Contact Us

Student Advising
107 Grehan Journalism Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0042

Phone:   859-257-4839

Office of the Dean
308 Lucille Little Library (LCLI)
Lexington, KY 40506-0224

Phone:   859-218-0290
Fax:        859-323-9879

Directory

Search form

<?php print t('UKY Home'); ?>

©  2017  University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 | (859) 257-9000 | An Equal Opportunity University

Contact | Feedback | Login