186Sophomores LILLI Sophomore and transfer Lilli Burch leaves a volleyball scholarship to pursue a multi-media journalism degree. Written by Randi Tubbs Dutch Hoggatt was the advisor for media production and general manager of the university radio stations. Burch and Hoggatt worked closely together in Burch’s first year at Harding. “The more vocal experience you get, whether it is radio or television, the better,” Hoggatt, said. “What she does with the radio is going to enhance her abilities with whatever she decides to do. If she wants to pursue [her goal], I think she has every opportunity and skill to do it.” The news and editorial director of live news broadcast HU16, Noah Darnell, hired Burch after one audition. Burch felt nervous to start live television, but after a couple tries she found herself growing in ways she didn’t expect. Darnell described Burch as adding a “lightness” to the studio. “Once she got over the nervousness of doing it, she was one of the strongest people we’ve had in a while,” Darnell said. “Her knowledge of sports and her general absorption and attention allows her to convey to an audience really well.” Burch hoped to continue on this path and work doing football broadcasting on Harding’s sidelines in fall 2024. Harding University gained a good one in fall 2023 when sophomore Lilli Burch transferred from Freed-Hardeman University. Before her transfer, she was a member of the Freed-Hardeman volleyball team and was a speech and communications major on the road to speech pathology. She realized after her freshman year that she needed a more direct degree plan to go towards her goal: a SEC sideline reporter. “Volleyball was only four years of my life and my career is the rest of my life,” Burch said. Burch felt that she had really found her home in Harding’s communication department and loved the atmosphere. “I was so stressed about going to college in the first place because of how tedious it is,” Burch said. “Communication is not like that at all. It’s based on you and communicating with others in all types of ways.” Since enrolling at Harding, Burch was involved with a number of different activities. She was a HU16 Live at 5 sports reporter and worked for KVHU 95.3. She was also involved in the College Church of Christ and Rock House College Ministry. Being involved in multiple areas on and off campus was something she felt was best to improve her skills. Live at 5 | Sophomore Lilli Burch reports for the Hu 16 Live at 5 broadcast as a sports reporter. Burch found a home in the Communication department at Harding following her transfer from Freed-Hardeman. Photo courtesy of HU 16
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