In the recent assembly of KSU graduates, Miguel Santiesteban, a journalism and emerging media major and Colombian immigrant, stood adorned in cords received for his dedication to KSU student media.
However, the journey to becoming the “2018 Journalism and Emerging Media Outstanding Graduate” was not an easy one. Despite making the top 20 in the Colombian national exams, Santiesteban struggled to find funding to attend his university of choice.
Dual-enrolled in college during high school, he had recently completed an associate degree in mechatronics in December 2011 and wanted nothing more than to continue studying.
“What I actually wanted to study is industrial engineering,” Santiesteban said. “I only needed a like year-and-a-half [after high school] to complete my associates, so I did that to explore the inner city and do something because I didn’t want to not study.”
While serving as a worship leader at his church in Colombia, a group of people from the U.S. came to his city to visit poverty-stricken neighborhoods. His pastor then referred the group to Santiesteban for his bilingual ability.
During the experience, Santiesteban connected with Amanda Moore, his soon-to-be “godmother.” Moore made multiple visits to his region and eventually offered him an opportunity to live with her family and study in the U.S.
After heavily contemplating the move and speaking with his family, Santiesteban immigrated to the U.S. in May 2013, leaving his country and his family behind for the first time in his life.
Santiesteban completed the eight-month Intensive English program at KSU and got involved in event hosting with the International Student Association in the process, making his choice of education at KSU an easy one.
“When it got to two years and I had to decide journalism and emerging media, I didn’t think twice, and I never changed it,” Santiesteban said.
In his younger years, Santiesteban participated in a number of radio and event-hosting opportunities at his high school and learned radio etiquette from his uncle, a radio personality in Colombia.
As a highly-involved student in the KSU community, Santiesteban served in various leadership positions within the ISA before becoming a TV member at Owl Radio.
In 2017, Santiesteban, along with his Owl Radio partner Kamila Daza, created “Spanglish: The Remix,” a regular Owl Radio series remixing music in both English and Spanish. It airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. during the summer semester.
“This is my legacy,” Santiesteban said. “This is what I leave the school. It’s a very multi-cultural show that’s never happened.”
He has also served as president of the KSU Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists and landed hard-earned internships at Fox 5 Atlanta and WSB TV in the fall.
“I was like, crying. No kidding.” Santiesteban said. “I cried because I had been so determined to get an internship, and I got it.”
In regard to his success, Santiesteban said that he is honored and truly thankful for his godparents for making all of this possible.
“They brought me here and trusted me blindly — a 15-year-old kid from Colombia,” he said. “They opened their doors, their family, their finances.”
After graduating from KSU in May, Santiesteban still desires to pursue a career as an international correspondent, working specifically in local news and truly being there “for the people.”
