Darren Hellwege

Darren Hellwege has hosted “Morning Edition” for over 23 years for KBIA Radio, and also serves as host of the “Thinking Out Loud” interview shows and as KBIA’s Sports Director.

The “Thinking” series includes “Thinking Out Loud” on Tuesday evenings and “Arts on Friday” on Friday evenings, both at 6:30, and “Saturday Sports” on Saturday mornings from 6 until 7. The series won the 2008 Missouri Broadcasters Association award for best program in its category in the state.

As Sports Director, Darren reports on on Tiger athletics and supervises a staff of student reporters both for the station and the KBIA Sports Extra website. Darren is a member of the Football Writers Association of American and United States Basketball Writers Association. His reports from the 2009 NCAA Women’s Final Four basketball tournament were heard nationwide on NPR, and he also reported on Mizzou athletics for the Official Sports Report.

Darren’s commitment to the Mid-Missouri community can be seen in his outreach activities for the station, including work with CanStruction, the Voluntary Action Center, Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri, American Red Cross, Boone County Historical Society, Columbia Public Schools and many other charitable organizations. He’s also been active in community theatre, performing with Maplewood Barn Community Theatre, Theatre NXS, and MoHip.

A native of Edmond, Oklahoma where he attended the University of Central Oklahoma, Darren and his wife Bonnie have two grown children. Kristian lives in Columbia and Janie is a student at Missouri State University.

Darren is an avid genealogist, enjoys reading, all kinds of music, classic movies and sports, and is a member of Rock Bridge Christian Church.