Tanner Sullivan Serves as the Valedictorian of the Class of 2026 at Centenary University
Centenary University | Hackettstown, New Jersey
A familiar voice on WNTI—Centenary’s streaming radio station—and WRNJ radio, Sullivan plans a career in radio and film.
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, May 19, 2026—As a college senior, Tanner Sullivan is already a familiar voice to listeners of WNTI and WRNJ, two Hackettstown-area radio stations. For the past three years, Sullivan has hosted a weekly program called The Ticket Booth—which explores various aspects of the film industry—on WNTI, Centenary University’s streaming station. Last year, Sullivan added Fresh Popcorn, a weekly feature on upcoming films, and man-on-the-street interviews to his schedule via an internship at WRNJ.
But cultivating an active on-air presence is just one item on his impressive resume. On Saturday, May 16, Sullivan graduated as the valedictorian of the Centenary University Class of 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication: Radio/Television/Film, plus a minor in professional writing. He earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA).
A resident of Basking Ridge, NJ, Sullivan originally didn’t set out to become an on-air personality. As a high school senior, he sought a university with a strong communication program that was also close to home. Centenary fit the bill—and Sullivan enrolled intending to study film. During his second semester, he met WNTI Director John Del Re, who teaches an audio production class at Centenary. “I was tasked with doing a weekly radio show,” Sullivan recalled. “It was immediate anxiety overload. I never anticipated having to broadcast live to listeners across the New Jersey base.”
Despite his initial trepidation, Sullivan took to the medium immediately. Since its launch, The Ticket Booth’s format has evolved from film reviews to a talk show covering new releases, film trivia, and music. Shortly after completing his second semester at Centenary, Sullivan was appointed WNTI’s student programming director. “As time went on, I grew more of a connection to the microphone—it started coming naturally to me,” Sullivan said. “My role at WNTI and my internship at WRNJ are a great way to blend my two passions, film and radio.”
At Centenary, Sullivan’s involvement also includes serving as executive managing editor of the Cyclone Chronicle, Centenary’s student newspaper. It’s an experience he values for helping him to hone his writing and editing skills, as well as building strong connections with the campus community: ”I view the newspaper as a massive community experience. Some of my closest friendships at Centenary occurred through the Cyclone Chronicle. I’m getting amazing writing experience, but also a lot of community support and encouragement. Centenary just has such an overall welcoming environment.”
As he reflects on his Centenary career, Sullivan is grateful for the faculty, fellow students, and family who helped nurture his budding media career. Today, he’s applying to both radio stations and New Jersey film studios, open to where the field leads him: “Years ago, someone told me, ‘If you pick the right job, you never have to work a day in your life.’ I plan to stay true to that mantra. When I first started college, I didn’t know where to start on my career. At Centenary, people introduced me to opportunities that have given me incredible experience. It’s been an absolute pleasure to attend Centenary for these four years.”
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, ARTICLE CONTENT
ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Centenary University was founded in 1867 by United Methodists and offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. The University aspires to advance its reputation as a world class institution offering innovative programs, including the world’s first Ph.D. in Happiness Studies and first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, to lift the future for our students and local communities.