Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2026
From the fairways of Ontario to the airwaves of Westminster, Ben Kelly has made an outsized impact on campus. A senior marketing and professional sales major from St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, Ben was originally recruited to Westminster for golf—but quickly found his stride beyond the course. Drawn to the College’s small-campus feel and hands-on “Pracademic” approach, he has embraced every opportunity available, emerging as a standout voice in the Titan broadcasting department while building real-world experience that aligns with his passion for sports and marketing.
To those who work alongside him, Ben’s impact is felt well beyond his résumé.
“Ben adds to our broadcasting team with daily radio shifts, compiling and producing the weekly entertainment report, serving as the lead producer for Titan Town Sports, providing play-by-play announcing with our visiting alumni in the radio booth at all Titan home football games and serving as a lead interviewer and podcaster,” said Gary Swanson, director of broadcasting at Westminster. “Ben has dedicated himself in so many ways to our efforts that people are often surprised to learn he isn’t a major. He’s an indispensable member of our team in practically all facets.”
What made you decide to travel so far from home to become a Titan?
I was initially recruited to play golf at Westminster, but the overall opportunity and small campus size was really appealing to me. Back home, schools are massive with 30,000-50,000 people and often very urban, which wasn’t an ideal learning environment for me. I liked Westminster’s small campus, and I felt that the School of Business would provide me with a great deal of useful experience. I believe that “Pracademic” learning practices would give me the best opportunity. In my decision process, I loved that professors ran their own businesses and lectured about their experiences, rather than speaking out of a textbook.
What is your favorite part about being a Titan and living on campus?
I have come to appreciate the sense of community that comes with being a Titan. The campus would have to be empty for me to not see someone I know every time I walk outside. That communal aspect leads to a better experience, both in and out of the classroom.
How did you choose your major and what do you like most about it?
I always liked the idea of marketing. In truth, I did not have a grand idea of what I wanted to do after high school, just the vague sense of wanting to do something in business. I selected marketing because I got the best feedback during my high school marketing class. Since enrolling, I like the hands-on experiences and guidance that professors have given me.
You have frequently worked with Gary Swanson, director of broadcasting and the Titan broadcasting department. What are some roles you have taken on in the department?
I have been fortunate to stay busy in the broadcasting department. I currently oversee all operations at Titan Radio as the assistant operations manager, and I recruit and manage all underwriting activities as underwriting coordinator. For three years I have been a play-by-play announcer with Titan Radio and WCN, which led me to become head producer of Titan Town Sports, the premier show on the Westminster Cable Network. When making my decision four years ago, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into Carleton University’s journalism program, the best in Canada. I decided to focus on marketing and golf instead, so I chose Westminster and am so thankful that I did. It has been the best of both worlds. I have been able to study all things that interest me and gain experiences I would not have gotten in a journalism program.
What is your favorite thing to do in the broadcasting and athletics departments?
I love working with teams and coaches. Over the last three years, I have consistently interviewed Titan Football Head Coach Scott Benzel. Over time, the rapport we had was incredible and it turned into a friendly conversation, rather than an obligatory interview. It is a unique opportunity to build that relationship with all the coaches. They’ve been incredibly kind and happy to help with any requests we have for interviews.
Do you have any faculty or staff members who have impacted you?
Gary Swanson deserves a huge thank you! Without him saying “do x-y-z” and guiding me through it, I’d be nowhere near a microphone. Westminster alumnus Mark Slezak ’87—who serves as play-by-play announcer for all Westminster home football games—has been a mentor to me. His feedback after each game has been extremely helpful and I’ve learned a lot about calling games with him over the years. Obviously, I mentioned Coach Benzel, but I appreciate all the coaches for their support. Lastly, the whole School of Communication has been incredible. Even though I’m not a major, all the faculty have been accommodating and welcoming.
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
I’m hoping to have a career in sports broadcasting or management. I’ve gotten a great deal of practical experience at Westminster, giving me the confidence to head into the “real world” of broadcasting.
