Jamestown’s Kameron Melendez, third from right, and the rest of the WSBU 88.3 FM “The Buzz” staff are all smiles upon arriving in New Orleans earlier this week. Submitted photo

Cameron Hurst knows a thing or two about the Jandoli School of Communications at St. Bonaventure University.

Fact is, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to suggest the 2016 Jamestown High School graduate is on the short list of the program’s foremost authorities, having received the 2020 Mark Hellinger Award, which annually honors its top graduate.

So when he was asked Tuesday night about Kameron Melendez, another JHS grad and a St. Bonaventure senior, Hurst didn’t pull any punches.

“He’s setting himself up very, very well,” Hurst said. “It makes me happy to see a local kid go to Bona and not only go there, but also make an impression on the people you need to make an impression on.

“Kam has very clearly proven himself.”

And this week, Melendez is doing so on the biggest of stages.

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Students from St. Bonaventure’s campus radio station, WSBU 88.3 FM “The Buzz,” arrived in New Orleans on Sunday night, and began broadcasting from Super Bowl 59 “radio row” at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Monday.

Melendez, who transferred to Bona after his graduation from Jamestown Community College in 2023, is a member of that crew. He and five other students are previewing the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles as well as sitting down with high-profile guests each afternoon through Friday. One of the people joining the broadcast Monday, for example, was former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf.

The trip marks the seventh time overall and the fourth year in a row that “The Buzz,” — annually ranked among the top student-operated college radio stations in the country — is broadcasting from Super Bowl radio row.

Beginning with Monday’s opening night, which featured media availability with coaches and players from the Chiefs and the Eagles, Melendez has been part of mass interviews with the likes of Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. And, as he left radio row yesterday, he witnessed All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. being interviewed.

“It’s been mind-blowing,” said Melendez, who is also serving as The Buzz’s production manager this week. “I’ve been starstruck the whole time.”

Today’s schedule will include nine interviews on radio row, followed by 10 more on Thursday. Combine that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with his work on the Olean campus at 88.3 FM the last two years, it’s pretty clear that Melendez has built himself quite a resume.

“I showed up at every single BUZZ meeting for sports and did whatever I had to do,” said Melendez, who had a two-hour sports talk show last year and is the host for a two-hour show focusing on Section VI high school sports this year. “As soon as I got to Bonaventure, I stepped right in from Day One,” he said. ” … It’s almost the same as being an athlete. You don’t want to be late and make the coach mad. You always want to battle for that spot. As long as you’re working, there isn’t any reason for anyone to turn you down.”

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The first person Melendez sought out during Monday’s opening night was another Jamestown native, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.

“I introduced myself as ‘Kam Melendez from Jamestown,'” he recalled. “(Sirianni) was like, ‘Just the guy I wanted to see.'”

Added Melendez: “He was just super happy and he noticed I had Bonaventure gear on. I asked him a question related to Jamestown and he answered it very well.”

Melendez will continue seeking answers today. So far, it appears he has figuratively aced any test in New Orleans.

“I’m so proud of what he’s been able to accomplish,” Hurst said.