Powers attended the University of Virginia where he worked at the student radio station, WUVA. He was a member of the UVA Jazz Club, which integrated the university auditorium with a concert by Dizzy Gillespie.
At the University of Virginia, Powers engaged in academic pursuits while contributing to the campus radio station, WUVA. His involvement with the UVA Jazz Club allowed him to collaborate with the university's auditorium on a concert featuring the celebrated jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie.