The Globe (WGCS) was awarded Radio Station of the Year by the Indiana Broadcasters Association (IBA) during its 26th Annual Spectrum Awards last Saturday in Indianapolis.
“This is a significant accomplishment for the radio station,” said Jason Samuel, WGCS general manager. “I don't think it has ever been done by any college radio station in the country.”
WGCS was competing in the station of the year market two category with two finalist commercial radio stations: WMEE in Fort Wayne and WTHI in Terre Haute. The IBA-designated market two comprises Evansville, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, Muncie, and Lafayette.
Five staff members of WGCS also won individual honors. 2013 graduate Benjamin Kelly and senior Tony Miller respectively received first and second place in the sports category for their play-by-play submissions. Former student station manager Kelsey Morris, a 2013 graduate, and the current station manager, Danielle Kerschhackl, a junior, won first place in the mini documentary category with their segment on the chili cook-off at Goshen First Fridays. Sophomore Ashley Davenport won the second place for her pop culture radio-zine, “Rewind.”
Samuel says that WGCS’ secret is hard work and the availability of opportunities to learn at Goshen College.
“Hard work: it sounds simple, but the truth is when you are in college, you have what seems like unlimited distraction, and to be able to have the discipline and the passion to work hard at something you love is a unique quality,” Samuel said. “The secret weapon in all that is coming here as an eighteen-year-old, first-year student, and plugging in right away, finding what you enjoy and what you are good at, so you can work on getting better and being the best, over four years.”
WGCS attributes its victory to the conjugated effort of all faculty members in the communication department.
“This is a department win,” said Samuel.” Many of these students at the radio station are involved with television, with Five Core, with the Record. It is our unique ability to use the conversion of all these media that gives us a distinctive advantage.”
