SJM 822 JuneOne Last Thing_Final_OLT 8 / 30 / 22 4 : 43 PM Page 1 ONE LAST THING Rise and Shine NBC10 ’ S ERIN COLEMAN ON HER EARLY CALL TIMES , HER SOUTH JERSEY ROOTS AND SHARING THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS WITH HER FAMILY . BY PETER PROKO like hiking and taking long walks with my 1 : 45 a.m . and Erin Coleman’s alarm is going off — the first of five fur - baby . She’s a Newfoundland , so very alarms making sure she doesn’t oversleep . Less than an hour later , the large and very drooly . I’ve also just start - It’s NBC10 morning anchor is headed out the door to arrive at the station ed picking up tennis again . where she goes live on the air every weekday at 4 a.m . It’s a grueling schedule , and I played in high school [ at Moorestown while squeezing in a nap during the day here and there certainly helps , ultimately it’s Friends ] , but that was a long time ago . her newfound appreciation for coffee that’s helping her manage the early mornings . I’m pretty rusty . “ I was never a coffee drinker before would have to share one used micro - doing the morning show , not even in scope when each kid got their own new TAKING THE PLUNGE … college . Now , I have a cup every morn - one across town . Education , working I’m a certified scuba diver . I love being in ing . I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad hard and studying harder changed her the water , though it’s been way too long thing , ” she quips . life , and she was determined that I un - since I’ve been on a dive . Coleman , a Voorhees native , spent derstood how important it is . 15 years working as a broadcast journal - THE GRATIFICATION THAT COMES WITH ist in other cities before joining NBC10 DECIDING NOT TO FOLLOW HER PARENTS HELPING OTHERS … in the fall of 2016 . Recognized during INTO A CAREER IN HEALTH CARE … Giving back is everything . I’ve been her career with two Emmys and the es - From the moment I stepped into 9th blessed with so much in my life , and I’m teemed Edward R . Murrow Award , Cole - grade biology and had to dissect a fetal a firm believer that to whom much is giv - man currently can be seen each morn - pig , I realized a career in medicine was en much will be required . I love being in ing as co - anchor alongside colleague not for me . I was much more drawn to the community and using my platform Keith Jones on NBC10 News Today . writing , and my parents wholeheartedly to raise awareness for some of the in - “ I’m beyond thrilled , ” Coleman says supported me in choosing a field so dif - credible nonprofits that are filling the gap of having the opportunity to further her ferent from their own . In college , I was a every day for people in need . Cathedral career in the shadows of her hometown . DJ — just call me “ E Little ” — and did a Kitchen is one of my favorites . It’s the “ Many of us don’t get to do what we love community news segment for the cam - largest emergency food provider in Cam - in the area where we grew up . I’ve got - pus radio station . That’s really how it all den . The people there do such great ten to work with some of the same in - started . work changing lives through food . credible news veterans I watched as a kid , and I’ve reconnected with so many BEFORE THE CAMERAS START THE BEST PART OF FAMILY people I haven’t seen in years . It’s great ! ” ROLLING … LIFE … We caught up with Coleman to talk My radio is cranked all the way up When I moved back to the area about family life , growing up in South on my ride to work at 2 : 30 a.m . It in 2016 , my daughter was 3 Jersey and how she likes to spend her gets me energized and helps get months old and my son was time off camera . the cobwebs out . R & B and just shy of 2 years old . They’re hip - hop from the ’ 90s up now 6 and 8 . Watching HER FONDEST MEMORIES OF GROWING UP until now is in full rota - them grow up here has IN SOUTH JERSEY … tion . And I always start been such a joy . I love to There are so many ! Getting ice cream at the show with a fist see their faces light up Friendly’s , diner hopping , learning to dri - bump to my co - anchor when I take them for ve through traffic circles , my first job at Keith Jones . Everyday . the first time to some the Echelon Mall , eating tons of water It’s our way of saying , of the same places my ice . The list goes on and on . “ OK , let’s do this . ” parents took me as a kid . My schedule also THE EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION AT A YOUNG WHEN THE CAMERAS allows me to spend AGE … AREN’T ROLLING … more time with them and My mother grew up in the segregated I’m usually in full on mom my husband . I can make South . When I was younger , she made it a mode when I’m not work - every single soccer game , point to describe in great detail what it ing , running from one ac - every parent - teacher confer - was like to get the leftover books from the tivity to the next . When I ence and we have family ? white schools or how her entire class can carve out a little time , I dinners every night . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 5 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 64 |