Vondee rules the airwaves at UCC
The whole campus of University of Cape Coast(UCC) and even Cape Coast township always come to a halt whenever he's behind the console hosting his early morning show on ATL l00.5FM, the campus radio station of UCC in the Central Region of Ghana.
Eric Vondee is the name of this radio whizkid and he's the host of Heaven To Earth, an early morning show aimed at motivating, informing and preparing listeners for the day’s work through prayer and worship.
When Showbiz caught up with him last Tuesday, the Level 400 UCC student of Actuarial Science didn't hesitate to narrate how it all began for him in the broadcasting fraternity and his experience so far in the media.
"My passion for radio cannot be overemphasised. I developed interest in the media after high school in 2012. I realised that I had the flair for public speaking and the strength in communication.
“ I therefore volunteered to be a radio correspondent for University of Ghana's Radio Univers in Accra. I gave news report on events that happen in my school, UCC. I later got the opportunity to be trained as a student radio presenter at ATL FM, where I currently host Heaven To Earth," he said.
He went on to say, "Broadcasting is a great opportunity to inform, educate and entertain people on issues and news that is happening around the world. As a student broadcaster, I have developed myself and acquired so many soft skills. I have improved on my public speaking skills and I have been able to grow my network of colleagues in the media fraternity. This has given me the chance to educate and train other students who are also passionate about Radio."
It's no denying the fact that juggling education and other stuff is burdensome. It takes a discipline mind to multi-task and on how he goes about all these, Vondee told Showbiz “ combining my personal business, media work and school have been one of the challenges I face every day, and it's very difficult to on each of them and still be the best in all.
“ I have however been able to develop some strategies in overcoming these challenges”, youngster who is also an actor and a singer said.
Asked what advise he would give students who want to pursue a career in broadcasting while in school, Mr Vondee had this to say: "I will urge my fellow young colleagues especially students who want to pursue a career in broadcasting to take advantage of opportunities that come their way to showcase their broadcasting skills.
“ Try and look out for media organisations in your society and volunteer your skills with them. The only way to be successful in what you do is to be the best in what you do.
"Let us focus on developing and branding our personality every day by reading insightful books in our field of interest. Let us also walk in our passion, do the positive things you love to do and find ways of creating wealth out of it.
“ Be determined, ambitious and hungry for success. If you do this, you will surely come back with positive testimonies," he added.
Born in Accra, Eric Vondee started his primary and junior high school at the Johnn Haavads School in Accra. He chalked many success stories during his high school days by being awarded the Best Student for an academic year.
He later became the Assistant School Prefect in high school and won awards such as the Best Geography Student and the Most Decent Student.
In March 2015, he was named as part of Top 30 Young Ghanaian Achievers by the Newaccra Magazine and co-hosted the Super Morning Show on Joy FM 99.7FM that same year.
That's not all, the Ghanaian lad was nominated in several categories at the 2015 Ghana Tertiary Awards as Student of The Year, Most Influential Student in Entrepreneurship and Radio Presenting.
In June 2016, he was named as the Entrepreneur of the Month For June by the Student Entrepreneurship Lab (STEL).