When Walla Walla Community College launched its Audio Engineering program, it set out to prepare students for careers in an industry that blends technology, creativity, and collaboration. For recent graduates Lola Bloom and Bryce Davis, the program has opened doors to opportunities they never imagined and provided the skills to turn their passions into professions.
For Bloom, the journey to audio engineering was anything but traditional.
A former Running Start student at WWCC, Bloom credits the college with helping her rediscover confidence and direction during a difficult time in high school. After earning both her associate degree and high school diploma, she transferred to Whitman College, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in theater.
After working for a period following graduation, Bloom found herself searching for a new path when she saw an advertisement for WWCC’s Audio Engineering program.
“I originally came back because I wanted to learn more about recording audiobooks,” Bloom said. “But the program opened the door to so much more.”
What began as an interest in audiobook narration evolved into a passion for live sound production. Through the program, Bloom discovered the science behind sound and gained hands-on experience with recording, mixing, signal flow, and live event production.
This summer, Bloom will participate in a highly competitive internship through the National Independent Venue Association’s Venue Operations Experience (VOX) program. Out of hundreds of applicants nationwide, only a select group was chosen. She will complete her internship at Kaiser Permanente’s venue operations program while also assisting with live sound production at Walla Walla’s Freya Festival, a regional music festival celebrating women artists.
Bloom plans to continue pursuing audiobook narration while building a career in the arts that includes live sound production.
“I’d love to stay in Walla Walla,” she said. “There’s so much happening here. We’re a great theater town, a great wedding town, a winery town. I see opportunities growing every year.”
For Davis, audio engineering offered a way to combine his love of music with practical career skills.
The 2025 Walla Walla High School graduate first learned about the program during a college fair.
“I asked if WWCC had anything music-related,” Davis said. “They told me about the new Audio Engineering program, and it sounded exactly like what I was looking for.”
A guitarist and member of the local band Downward Spiral, Davis wanted to understand what happens behind the scenes of music production. Today, he is using the skills he learned at WWCC to mix and edit his band’s first album, which is scheduled for release later this summer.
The program also gave Davis the opportunity to apply his skills in a professional production environment. This spring, he worked on a major commercial filming project in downtown Walla Walla, assisting with production and observing professional audio engineers at work. The experience allowed him to see firsthand how the concepts taught in class translate to large-scale productions.
“A lot of what we talked about on set was stuff we’d already learned in the program,” Davis said. “It helped me see how the skills Rodney teaches can fit into so many different environments.”
Davis says one of the most valuable lessons he learned was how to collaborate with others under pressure. Through recording sessions with local musicians, students learned to work as production teams, solve problems quickly, and deliver professional-quality recordings.
After graduation, Davis hopes to continue working in the local music and entertainment community, supporting live performances and production projects while exploring future opportunities in audio and music production.
Both graduates point to instructor Rodney Outlaw’s industry experience and mentorship as a major factor in their success. Through connections with local businesses, musicians, venues, and production professionals, students gain real-world experience while building professional networks before they graduate.
Outlaw believes hands-on learning is essential to preparing students for successful careers in the audio industry.
“At WWCC, our mission is to help students build skills they can use in the real world,” Outlaw said. “It’s not enough to learn audio engineering in a classroom. Students need opportunities to apply those skills in the community while they’re still in the program. Part of my role is helping them discover what they’re capable of, pushing them beyond their comfort zones, and connecting them with opportunities that build confidence and professional experience. I want them to leave here knowing they have the skills to succeed in this industry.”
That approach has already paid off for graduates like Bloom and Davis, who are entering the workforce with hands-on experience, professional connections, and a growing portfolio of real-world projects.
