Alumni and Friends Making an Impact

Dan Covey ’77 had his ears on campus long before he attended his first class. Growing up in the Dayton area, he was a big fan of WVUD, the commercial radio station run by UD students making waves at the time with their progressive rock format.

Covey joined the WVUD crew his first year, and he’s been in broadcasting ever since. He’s also never lost his passion for all things UD, serving in dozens of volunteer roles since graduation — including stints as the Dayton Alumni Community local leader and as an ongoing alumni peer-to-peer ambassador.  

This spring, Roy Flynn, principal media production lecturer and facility manager, invited Covey and other Flyer Radio alumni to the grand opening gala of the Roger Glass Center for the Arts. Flynn provided an insider’s look at the new home of Flyer Media, which includes Flyer Radio (now WUDR Flyer Radio 99.5/98.1 FM and streaming at streamon.fm/wudr), Flyer TV and Flyer News.    

It wasn’t the first time Flynn had invited alumni to campus, but it was the first time in the Glass Center. And, after they began touring the facilities, Covey quickly found himself taking part in a podcast with students in the new space.

“I have no doubt that those students will have a competitive edge after graduation because of the opportunities they’ve had at UD, and, as a UD alum, I know it doesn’t get any better than that.”

“That was fun. And to see the quality of the state-of-the-art facilities … you could just see the pride the students had working in that environment,” said Covey. “I have no doubt that those students will have a competitive edge after graduation because of the opportunities they’ve had at UD, and, as a UD alum, I know it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Flynn noted that, in addition to now having equipment that would draw the envy of any program in the nation, the addition of space was critical — about a 50% increase in size across the board. For the first time in 20 years, the media production students from all areas are in the same facility — a huge benefit that is providing opportunities for creative collaboration and community.

“When I was on campus, the radio station was, in a way, my fraternity,” said Covey. “When not in class, that’s where you’d find me, getting real-life experience and growing my contacts with people already in the industry. I graduated in ’77 and, to this day, keep in touch with many fellow alums from WVUD. Some have become colleagues, and many are like second family. All of us are grateful for the shared life-changing experience.”

That mix of community and camaraderie? It’s doing more than creating a positive space to learn and grow at UD — it’s building a network that Flyers can count on for life. And, because of invested alumni like Covey and dedicated faculty like Flynn, current students are creating personal and professional connections that transcend class years.

Covey’s connections brought him a wealth of academic and career guidance from Geoff Vargo ’73 and Chris Caggiano ’70, the gift of faith formation with Father Norbert Burns, S.M. ’45, and he’ll be forever grateful to his housemate, Bill Pugh ’76, who introduced him to his wife Debra Meyer Covey ’77, ’15.

“There’s a Flyer bond … a service-oriented spirit that you get attending UD,” said Covey. “We always say that Flyers open doors for others, and I know that’s true. We carry that Flyer spirit our entire lives. And, if we have opportunities to help other alums, then it’s important for us to do so.”