WAYNE, Neb. (KTIV) - A Siouxland college's radio program has received esteemed recognition on the international stage. During World College Radio Day, celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 4, Wayne State College's student radio station, KWSC-FM 'The Cat,' secured the 2024 Spirit of College Radio award, positioning it among the top ten college radio stations worldwide.
Each year, awards are determined by a dedicated panel overseeing College Radio Day, which aims to showcase stations demonstrating exceptional commitment to the event's spirit. The College Radio Foundation presents the Spirit of Radio Awards to honor the contributions made during World College Radio Day. Rob Quicke, the founder of College Radio Day, noted, "We congratulate all these stations for their brilliant efforts. This year, our theme was 'The Soundtrack of Democracy,' and many stations undertook 24 hours of extraordinary programming centered around this theme. Well done to all the stations who won this award."
Notably, of the countless stations participating globally, only ten earn recognition. KWSC-FM stands out as one of seven college radio stations from the United States awarded this year, alongside international counterparts from Argentina, Ireland, and Italy.
The full list of award-winning stations includes:
- Aggie Radio 92.3 KBLU-LP – Utah State University (USA)
- Conectión Abierta – Universidad Abierta Interamericana (Argentina)
- Juice FM – Cork (Ireland)
- KWSC-FM 91.9 “The Cat” – Wayne State College (USA)
- Radio Mitchell – Mitchell College (USA)
- Unica Radio – Università degli Studi di Cagliari (Italy)
- 90.5 WERG – Gannon University (USA)
- WESS 90.3FM – East Stroudsburg University (USA)
- WOLF Radio and WOLF Sports Network – University of West Georgia (USA)
- WXBC – Bard College (USA)
Established during the 1971 academic year, KWSC-FM operates 24 hours daily during the school year and is recognized as one of the oldest campus radio stations within Nebraska. Known as “Your Music Authority, 91.9 The Cat,” it provides students with valuable on-air training opportunities through various special events, home team athletics broadcasting, and roles under faculty supervision.
Sean Ahern, the radio station’s advisor and associate professor of communications arts, expressed immense pride following the award. He remarked, "I am honored KWSC has received this award. College radio is an important space for students to curate their creativity, acting as a platform for alternative voices and music. World College Day spotlights the unique tones of college radio and the students who bring their everyday lives to the airwaves."
Further praising the significance of the station's operations, Ahern added students gain hands-on experience connecting classroom knowledge directly with real-world applications. "KWSC students leave with practical exposure, which ushers them onto successful career paths as media professionals. I am incredibly proud of all they have achieved, and I look forward to the future advancements of KWSC-FM," he stated.
For additional details, listeners and supporters can check out KWSC-FM's programming through Wayne State College's website.
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