CWU Student Radio Station/Staff Acknowledged Among Nation’s Elite

Four Central Washington University student-broadcasters, from the university’s KCWU FM, received top honors at Saturday’s 76th annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Golden and Silver Microphone Trophy Awards ceremony in New York City.

Nick Oliver and Russell Widner received the national award for best Public Service Announcement for “Flu Shots.” Milagro Castilleja and Sophia Ferguson landed the distinction for the nation’s Best Talk Radio Show for “The Nerd Herders,” which focuses on areas such as comic books, movies, and video games.

They were among the CWU finalists in 10 categories overall, among a record 82 submissions in 23 categories, said Travis Box, general manager for KCWU FM, 88.1 the Burg.

“To have this kind of recognition of our students’ work is phenomenal,” Box acknowledged, with a smile. “But, two years in, does it surprise me? No. Nothing about their success surprises me anymore, because I know our students. I see their creativity, dedication, passion, and how well they work as a team.”

With these new accolades, KCWU has now received nine of 23 national awards for which is it and its staff have been nominated during the last two-and-a-half years.

“We don’t do this for awards; we do this because we love it.” Box said. “When you do great work for your audience, your peers and the community, the byproduct will probably be awards.”

Named the 2015 IBS top college radio station, KCWU was among the six finalists for top honors, again, this year, as the Best College/University Station at an institution of more than 10,000 students.

“Just by being nominated puts us in the top three-to-five percent of college radio stations.” Box noted. “We only started a couple of years ago down the path to become an elite program. We now can claim that title.”

The station’s state-of-the-art equipment, adherence to industry best practices, and the education, guidance, and training students receive in the pre-professional program plays into KCWU’s national success.

“We’re trying to lay a foundation of professional broadcasting in a setting that still allows them the creativity and freedom to develop their voice, like any other college station,” Box explained. “We don’t believe those are mutually exclusive. That’s what’s different about us.”

This year, KCWU has 68 paid and volunteer staff members, which is about 10 more than last year. In addition, some two dozen students are on a wait list to become involved with the program, Box said.

“You don’t need a trophy to change the world,” he added. “You just have to be crazy enough to believe you can.”

Media contact: Robert Lowery, director of Radio Services and Integrated Communications, 509-963-1487, loweryr@cwu.edu

March 11, 2016