Shane Fernando grew up in Wilmington, NC, being an avid WHQR listener during his childhood during the station's first years. He also served as WHQR's first intern. After graduation from UNCW in 2000, where he spearheaded the project and fundraising for the UNCW Millennium Clock Tower, he moved to Washington, DC to work in the U.S. Senate. In 2005, Shane returned to Wilmington, receiving his master's degree in Public Administration.