Class of 2026 Senior Spotlight
Few things are more desirable than having the opportunity to work from within one’s dream industry. During his time at Wabash, Braiden Foster ’26 was able to do just that. He is a rhetoric and German double major with a minor in film and digital media. He is also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Originally from Batesville, Indiana, Foster has always been involved in athletics. While in high school he played three years of varsity football and basketball and one year of varsity baseball. As a kicker for the Batesville Bulldogs, Foster scored 100 career kicking points to rank third in all-time school history.
“I was a kicker and my goal when I came to college was to score,” said Foster. “I ended up getting in a varsity game and scoring, so I was super happy about that.”
Coming into Wabash, Foster played football during his freshman and sophomore years as a kicker. After finishing his sophomore year he decided it was time to start his career search. Based on the evaluation of his position on the football team, he chose to focus on the social media presence and recruitment aspects of the football team. He’s always had a passion for capturing sports moments and testing the limits of cameras, dedicating his interest to learning how to recreate professional work.
“Braiden was in charge of all football photography, video creation and social media,” said Head Football Coach Jake Gilbert ’98. “We used Braiden extensively in recruiting and he was great at working against deadlines.”
Foster turned out to be more effective in the social media and management roles as he created new media graphics and helped recruit three classes. He enjoyed showcasing the underrepresented features of Wabash football and recruiting students. Foster also worked for the Wabash Video Network as a camera operator and transitioned into graphics and replay and directing.
After doing camera work for the Independent Sports Companies network, he landed a position with the Pacers Sports and Entertainment, the Indianapolis-based organization that manages the NBA Indiana Pacers, the WNBA Indiana Fever and the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“It was definitely hard at first,” said Foster. “Seeing Tyreese Haliburton up close and being able to say ‘What’s up’ is cool, but I learned to build a professional working relationship.”
Foster’s biggest takeaway from his time working at the professional level is to appreciate every moment. He understands that everyone will not have the opportunity to work their dream job, and is therefore grateful for the opportunities he has. Being on the photography side of the field allows him to experience games first-hand.
Capturing the right moment is crucial to the athletics industry, and Foster is committed to displaying the talents he records. What stood out to him about his role is involvement on the team. While he may not actively play on the field he feels like he has always been an important piece of the team. He is thankful to Wabash for helping him learn to be himself and empowering him to display his talent.
After he graduates, Foster is hoping to work for another large sports corporation. On top of his sports aspirations, Foster has been accepted into the Fulbright program in Germany, where he will teach English. Braiden Foster would like to shout out his parents, his brother and everyone he’s gotten to know that have helped shape his perspective of the world.