34 years. That is the time between Dan DeBord graduating high school, and finishing college with his bachelor’s degree. Driven by the desire to improve the quality of life for himself and his family, along with wanting to show his late parents that he graduated from a four-year university, Dan went back to school in 2016 in order to complete his degree and follow his dream of being on the radio.
Back to the classroom: In 2013, Dan was laid off from his job. Not knowing what to do, Dan says he “boo-hooed for a few months” and eventually found employment at Riverside Healthcare, where he is still employed. Even though he had found a job, he still felt the urge to pursue a passion he had since childhood—working in radio. Living in Manteno, IL, Dan had heard about Olivet Nazarene University and all that the school has to offer, including a degree in multimedia communications with a radio concentration.
So, at 48 years old, Dan went back to school. The transition presented some challenges, including managing time well. Dan continued to work full-time while being enrolled at a university full-time, yet he excelled in his classes. Dan also notes that he had to catch up with technology when he started at Olivet.
However, these challenges were outshined by the people and environment at Olivet. Dan says that his classmates and professors make him “feel young and welcome, as if we were friends for years.” He has also become involved in different multimedia opportunities at Olivet, including the radio station SHINE.FM, and the student-run station Spark 89.7HD3. The classes and extracurriculars have helped Dan develop his radio skills further and gain experience that will advance his career.
Pursuing a passion: Working in radio has been a passion of Dan’s since he was a child. He says, “I am fascinated that my voice and encouragement can help a total stranger with something as simple as a vocal hug.” Something he likes the most about being on the radio is being able to encourage people, or help them forget about their problems, if only for a three-minute song. He really enjoys how much of a difference he can make in someone’s life through the radio. Dan is reaching out to his community through various local radio stations, including a morning show on Spark 89.7HD3, a weekend show on SHINE.FM, and weekend shows on Milner Media’s WVLI 92.7FM and WIVR 101.7FM.
A family man: Along with radio, Dan is also interested in baseball, hockey, and spending time with his family. He and his wife have three children, ranging from 30 to 12 years old.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Dan plans to take a road trip to Disney World with his family and continue working at Riverside and Milner Media. He also plans to further his education and career by pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership. Dan’s persistence and hard work prove that it is truly never too late to follow your dreams.
