Brooklyn, Ohio

Mike Watts '11, a gifted young man this corner had the privilege to work with during Mike's years as the President of Saint Ignatius' Student Broadcasting Network and Student Sports Information Department, continues to excel in his educational, sports reporting and business endeavors at Fordham University.

A finance major at Fordham, Mike is excelling academically, to say the least.

Mike, following in the Jesuit tradition of Saint Ignatius and Fordham, as he put it, said the first year at Fordham was focused on liberal arts, while the second year focused more on his business education.

"A Dean's List appearance capped a good year in the classroom, while the business side helped me land an internship at a high net worth wealth management firm in equity research in midtown Manhattan this summer," Mike wrote in an e-mail to the corner. "As the summer has progressed, I have found my education put to use in very real scenarios, a very cool feeling for a kid who used to watch CNBC after school while in grade school."

Outside of the classroom, Mike has continued to work at Fordham's WFUV-FM.

"This past year I called dozens of games across multiple sports (Football, M/W Soccer, W/M Basketball, Baseball, Softball), hosted talk shows (including a five hour show from the floor of the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall), and covered professional locker rooms as a beat reporter for the New York Rangers, New York Mets and New York Red Bulls," Mike said. "I have been lucky enough to meet with incredibly supportive people from ESPN, NBC and FOX who I have stayed in touch with over the past few months."

On the radio side of things, a feature Mike completed in March 2012 was awarded honorable mention by the NYSAPBA in June, while his play by play broadcasting earned him an honorable mention on the STAA's All-American list. Mike, who was one of three underclassmen on a total list of 33, said the list included two Saint Ignatius students and three Fordham students.

"My year was capped off with a call to do the in-stadium broadcast feed for a soccer match between Spain and Ireland at sold out Yankee Stadium," said Mike. "It was an awesome experience to go along with calling a game at Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium this year, and it was the fifth major league stadium I've called a game from.

"Again, I hope this note finds you well, " Mike continued. "I'll certainly be reading the Corner in the mean time, as I always do. I'm excited to continue down both paths in my life, while trying to enjoy living in New York City as a college student. I've certainly been blessed."

On a personal note, this corner would like to say that when Mike was entering just his junior year at Saint Ignatius you could see his unlimited potential. His command, delivery and keen, but not overbearing sense of humor, along with his endless knowledge of the subject (Mike always did his homework), were a step ahead of those on the high school level and even some on the college and professional levels. Mike brought an objectivity and a respect for those he worked with throughout his limitless development.

If Saint Ignatius has a Broadcasting Hall of Fame some day, Mike, Brendan Gulick '09 (the pioneer of the SIBN) and this year's recently graduated dynamo John Fanta '13 will get my first three votes.

God Bless gentlemen, now and in the future.