Explorer Post 5, Post 50 Students Honored with Scholarships from CBC

Explorer Post Scholarship Winners — Members of WRAL’s Explorer Post 5 and the Durham Bulls’ Explorer Post 50 are awarded $1,000 scholarships for their work with the programs in a pre-game ceremony on-field at the DBAP at Sunday, September 25, 2022. DBBC’s Mike Birling (l to r), Explorer Post Advisor WRAL-TV’s Chris Cormier and Explorer Post Advisor Ken Bland honor the students: Sarah Ellis, Michaela Teasley, Asa Patterson, Zach Wilson and Michael Austin.

Near the end of the Durham Bulls 2022 season, several members of WRAL’s Explorer Post 5 and the Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 TV Crew were awarded scholarships for their work with the training programs. The presentation took place on Sunday, September 25, 2022, prior to the start of the game.

Five students received $1,000 scholarships from Capitol Broadcasting Company and the Durham Bulls.

Ken Bland, Advisor for WRAL Explorer Post 5 and Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50, who has been a part of advising Post 50 for 24 years, since the program began, shared about the Explorer Posts:

Explorer Post 5 and 50 offers students, ages 14-20, a unique and invaluable opportunity to gain exceptional experience in the field of television broadcasting.

WRAL Explorer Post 5, now in its 53rd year, is the oldest communications Explorer Post in the nation, focusing on news broadcasting, and is supported by WRAL-TV and Capitol Broadcasting Company.

Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 is supported and sponsored by the Durham Bulls, Fox 50, and Capitol Broadcasting Company. Now in its 24th season of broadcasting, Post 50 provides the live broadcast of the Durham Bulls games on WNGT and MiLB.com as well as within the ballpark. They also provide highlights for FOX 50 and WRAL newscasts.

1. Sarah Ellis – Sarah has been a member of the Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 for two seasons. She is a graduate of Middle College High School with a GPA of 4.5 and is attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Journalism with a focus on Broadcasting.

2. Michaela Teasley – Michaela has been a member of the Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 for one season. She is a graduate of Wake Forest High School with a GPA of 4.4 and is attending North Carolina A&T State University studying Broadcast Journalism and Mass Communication.

3. Asa Patterson – Asa is a member of both WRAL Explorer Post 5 for one year and the Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 for two seasons. He is a graduate of the Durham School of the Arts with a GPA of 3.8 and is attending North Carolina A&T State University studying Broadcast Journalism and Mass Communication.

4. Zach Wilson – Zack has been a member of the Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 for two seasons. He is a graduate of Wakefield High School with a GPA of 3.7 and is attending Wake Technical Community College.

5. Michael Austin – Michael has been a member of the Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 for four seasons. He is a graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High School with a GPA of 4.8 and is attending Duke University studying Arts & Sciences.