Derrion Henderson delivers the morning news in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but just eight years ago he was graduating in Cape Girardeau.

Henderson earned a Bachelor of Science in mass media: multimedia journalism with a minor in marketing in 2015. Originally from St. Louis, he had transferred to Southeast to join some of his friends from home.

“I looked at it and said they’re accredited, just like that other school,” Henderson said. “And I’ll be paying way less, too. After touring and seeing the success out of the department, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.”

Henderson returned to his hometown, where he received several awards including DELUX Magazine 30 under 30, St. Louis Champion by Explore St.Louis, and two distinguished alumni awards from his high school alma maters.

Throughout his work in television, he’s been nominated for two Mid-America Emmy Awards for a feature news story in 2018 and his part in the historical St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Parade in 2019. Recently, he picked up his third Emmy nomination, a National Association of Black Journalist award. He also won ‘News Anchor Team of the Year’ from Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.

“The reason I’m here today is because I changed my major to multimedia journalism,” Henderson said. “Taking multimedia journalism allowed me to hone my writing and begin to learn what is writing, what is creative writing. Those skills allowed me the opportunity to do it on my own in my current position."