SUNY Oswego graduates appeared on-air on NBC’s “Today” show on Jan. 27 as the program celebrated the 30th anniversary of hiring one of the university’s most famous alumni – Al Roker, also known widely as “America’s Favorite Weatherman.”

Two segments –- which were kept secret from Roker until that morning –- honored the many media professionals Roker influenced, including Oswego alumni who took his ”Camera-Ready: Developing Your On-Air Persona” course. But among all the appreciation, the 1976 graduate said he was extremely grateful to his alma mater.

“Without SUNY Oswego, I would never be here,” said Roker, who is now the weather and feature anchor for “Today” and co-host of the show’s third hour.

SUNY Oswego alumni and former Roker students who appeared, and are currently working in the broadcasting industry, include Scott Brubaker, a reporter and multimedia journalist at WENY-TV in Elmira; Kaley Richmond, morning news producer at NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse; and Jolie Santiago, a producer/reporter at WNYT NewsChannel 13 in Albany.

“SUNY Oswego has a great business program, but it’s always had this amazing meteorology program and communication program,” Roker said, with him graduating from the latter.

Roker talked about taking some science classes as a requirement and not expecting a TV career, let alone becoming an icon, as well as his admiration for the newest graduates entering the industry. 

“The kids that are coming out now from there are smart, they’re intelligent, they care about the climate,” Roker said. 

Co-host Craig Melvin added that every day, SUNY Oswego alumni are everywhere in the studio and other NBCUniversal positions.

“There are more SUNY Oswego folks around 1A than any other school,” Melvin said of the famous NBCUniversal news studio and operations on Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

Secret project

A “Today” producer reached out to SUNY Oswego months earlier, looking to connect with students who took the courses co-taught by communication studies faculty member Michael Riecke. But, the producer said, the segment was a complete surprise, and everybody had to stay silent until the segments unfolded.

Riecke and Tim Nekritz, the university’s director of communications, connected “Today” with names of students in the class, with Riecke noting the success of those students, like many of Oswego’s broadcasting graduates.

After graduation, Riecke said, 19 of the 23 students in the two installments of the class went right to work in media, three as on-air meteorologists. In all, 11 worked in on-air positions, while several more became producers, reporters and production talent. Others went to work in related fields.

From there, “Today” reached out to a number of alumni to attend, then the nor’easter complicated travel plans for some and the broadcast moved back one day.

The enthusiasm of Laker participants was still evident. The Jan. 27 show featured a number of tributes, with the whole 9 a.m. hour dedicated to Roker recollections. The Oswego graduates appeared in multiple segments, beaming with pride, smiling and laughing as their former professor showcased his trademark humor.

The broadcast included a number of statistics on Roker, including that he owned 36 shirts and sweatshirts from SUNY Oswego –- which they updated to 41 as co-hosts presented a box of Laker swag live on the air.

In a follow-up email, NBC producers expressed their appreciation for the Lakers, who aimed to make the day even more memorable.

“Thank you all so much for being part of what was an incredibly special morning celebrating the incomparable Mr Roker,” the producers said. “Everyone on the staff said how much you all enhanced the show by showing your true admiration and heartfelt appreciation for Al. And for those who couldn’t attend because of those frustrating flight cancellations, you were certainly there in spirit!”

'An important moment'

Santiago also had the opportunity to appear in a studio NBC “Today” segment shortly after her May 2024 graduation, as the show celebrated recent graduates from their anchors’ schools. In that segment, Santiago got to showcase her skills by doing some sports stories live. Getting on the show a second time was additionally memorable.

“I felt like it was an important moment for all of us to come together and recognize how far Al has come and how far he’s bringing the people behind him,” Santiago said of the anniversary broadcast. “I feel like there was a great sense of community in the green room and when we got out there.”

Santiago recalled looking forward to every class with Roker and her classmates in spring 2023.

“It was really insightful to get advice from him, and he always had great perspectives and humor,” Santiago said. “I enjoyed his stories about the business, and how we should always be ourselves as there’s only one of us, and we need to put that out there.”

Before, during and after the broadcast, Oswego’s alumni had the opportunity to network and hear from others who were inspired by Roker.

“It was really fun to reunite with my classmates Kaley and Scott,” Santiago said. “I always enjoy getting back together with them, my other classmates or any Lakers. Al is a huge part of the Oswego family. He still provides so many opportunities.”