Goshen College Assistant Professor of Communication Jason Samuel (right) and senior Benjamin Kelly (left) work together in the studios of 91.1 The Globe, the college’s student-operated radio station.
(Photo provided by the Goshen College Communications and Marketing Office)

Goshen College’s student-operated radio station WGCS 91.1 The Globe (www.globeradio.org) just added two more huge accomplishments to its growing list: 2013 Best College Station in the Nation and Indiana’s Radio School of the Year.

Best College Station in the Nation

This is the second time the college radio station has received the top national award in three years from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS), making it the first college to be a repeat winner in the competition, which is against every college and university in the country of every size. Last year, the station was a runner-up for the top award.

The station’s General Manager Jason Samuel and a group of his students who work at the station were on hand to win the award at the 73rd Annual Conference of the IBS in New York City on March 2. The Globe beat out two other finalists for the top award: William Patterson University (enrollment: 11,400 students) and DePaul University (enrollment: 25,000 students). In addition, students won six national awards and were finalists in 20 categories. IBS is the oldest college radio association in the country.

“I honestly thought we’d never win again, but they told us that the most significant factor separating WGCS from the other radio stations is our community involvement,” said Samuel, an assistant professor of communication. “We’re doing the best we can and it feels great to have others recognize our hard work.” The Globe’s community involvements include hosting a blood drive, airing local high school events, partnering with Ignition Garage to bring artists for local concerts and helping with Downtown Goshen’s First Fridays.

Indiana’s Radio School of the Year and Television School of the Year

Goshen College students are in front of and behind the cameras during a February 2013 taping of The Correspondent, the college’s bi-weekly television news broadcast, which is produced by students and distributed via the campus cable system and the Internet.
(Photo provided by the Goshen College Communications and Marketing Office)

And just a few weeks earlier on Feb. 15, for the second consecutive year, Goshen College earned the state titles of both Radio School of the Year and Television School of the Year in the 2013 Indiana Association of School Broadcasting’s (IASB) college broadcasting competition.

Last year, the college was the first school in the IASB competition to win the School of the Year awards in both radio and television in the same academic year, and in doing so, Goshen became only the second school ever to win the award in both categories since the first awards were given in 2005. Goshen College broadcasting students also won 22 other radio and television awards in the competition, including six first-place awards.

The Correspondent is the college’s bi-weekly television news broadcast produced by Goshen College students and distributed via the campus cable system and the Internet. Assistant Professor of Communication Seth Conley is the adviser for The Correspondent.

“We are honored to receive an award of this magnitude, especially two years in a row,” said Conley. “We realize that we are facing some very tough competition from other strong video programs across the state, so we are thrilled to be included in that group, let alone being named Television School of the Year for the third time in four years.”

Goshen College’s student-operated radio station WGCS 91.1 The Globe (www.globeradio.org) just won 2013 Best College Station in the Nation and Indiana’s Radio School of the Year. Station General Manager and Assistant Professor of Communication Jason Samuel (back) and students (front) Samantha Danforth, Maria Bischoff, (middle) Jim O’Day, Kelsey James, Ashley Davenport and Danielle Kerschhackl hold their national awards in New York City on March 2.
(Photo provided by the WGCS 91.1 The Globe)

The Globe has been on the air since 1958, is managed by members of the Goshen College Communication Department and is staffed by about 40 student workers and community volunteers. Each week The Globe features a fresh and eclectic mix of Americana, alternative acoustic, folk, singer-songwriters and world beat music. The Globe is one of a select number of reporting stations to the Americana Airplay Chart. It provides 24-hour programming, which includes music, news, public affairs and sports.

“We’re tickled!” said Samuel, about the repeat win. “We have students at all grade levels recognized with awards. If we didn’t have that deep of a roster of talent, we wouldn’t have repeated as Radio School of the Year. We tell students that when they come here they can get behind the microphone or the camera immediately and start working at their craft. So they gain four years of hands-on experience, instead of just one or two years like they would at much larger schools.”

Broadcast Education Association awards

Five Goshen College students and a faculty member will also receive awards at Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts in Las Vegas in April. Kyle Hufford, assistant professor of communication and general manager of the college’s video production company FiveCore Media, and Daniel Penner, who graduated in May 2012, will receive an award of excellence for the video “Goshen College Theater Department: Take 1.” The award comes in the mixed (teacher/student co-production) video category. Meanwhile, on the audio side, sophomore Danielle Kerschhackl and senior Kelsey Morris took first place in best radio newscast; senior Benjamin Kelley, third place in radio and TV play by play; and senior Jimmy Cassoday, third place for the specialty program “After Hours.”

Benjamin Kelly, a senior at Goshen College, won the first Spectrum Award in the college’s history. Kelly was also a finalist in the category for Best Sports Reporting. (Photo courtesy of the Indiana Broadcasting Association)

The Goshen College Communication Department’s award shelf keeps getting fuller as broadcasting and journalism students recently received top prizes in several state and national competitions.

Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Award

In November, staff from Goshen’s on campus radio station, 91.1 The Globe (WGCS), attended the 25th Annual Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Awards and Hall of Fame Banquet in Indianapolis, which honors the best in Indiana broadcasting. Senior broadcasting major Benjamin Kelly, from Lagrange, Ind., came away with the first Spectrum Award a Goshen College student has won. He received the award in the category of Best Documentary for his “Leaf Legends” piece profiling the volunteer work of professor emeritus, John Ingold. In addition, Kelly was a finalist in the category for Best Sportscast.

“This is especially gratifying for WGCS as only one other non-commercial radio station was honored at the award ceremony,” said Jason Samuel, the station’s general manager.

First place in College Broadcasters Incorporated’s national production awards
As well, the College Broadcasters Incorporated held its national conference in Atlanta in October and Goshen College received four national production awards nominations:

• Best Radio DJ and Best News Reporting: Senior Kelsey Morris, a broadcasting major from Goshen;
• Best Sports Reporting: Kelly and senior Ian Shelly, a broadcasting major from Marcellus, Mich.;
• Best Newscast: sophomore Danielle Kerschhackl, a broadcasting major from Elmwood Park, Ill.

Kelly and Shelly won the award for Best Sports Reporting for their “Maple Leaf Sports Report.”

Hoosier State Press Association

The Hoosier State Press Association awarded senior Bojana Jankova, a public relations major from Macedonia, a second place for best feature writing among collegiate journalists in 2012.

The award was announced at the Hoosier State Press Association’s awards luncheon in Indianapolis on Dec. 1. Jankova’s award came for a feature story published in The Goshen College Record last spring: “Undocumented immigrant shares her story on stage.”

The annual Hoosier State Press Association contest invites entrants from all colleges and universities across the state, who compete for three places in five categories. Other winning entrants came from Ball State University, DePauw University, Indiana University, Purdue University, Taylor University and the University of Indianapolis.

WGCS received 15 nominations, the most nominations of any institution in the country. The station is a finalist in the Best Use of Social Media category and, for the second consecutive year, a finalist for Best College Station. This year, IBS has created several divisions for Best Station, and WGCS is a finalist in the under 10,000 enrollment category along with Kings College (Wilkes Barre, Pa.), University of Tennessee-Martin and North Central College (Naperville, Ill.).

Students leading the way with four nominations were juniors Benjamin Kelly (Lagrange, Ind.) and Kelsey Morris (Goshen). Kelly is a finalist for Best News Feature, Best Play-By-Play, Best Sports Talk Program and Best Sports Update. Morris is a finalist for Best Promo Series, Best Station Event Promo, Most Innovative Show and Best Station Promotional Event.

2011 graduate Trisha Handrich (Goshen) is a finalist in two categories: Best Live Music Broadcast and Best Artist Interview.

Senior Ian Shelly (Marcellus, Mich.) is a finalist for Best Sports Update. Senior Summer Hasan (Newton, Kan.) is a finalist for Best Show Promo. Junior Jimmy Cassoday (Whiting, Ind.) is a finalist in the Best Live Music Broadcast category.

Each week, The Globe features a fresh and eclectic mix of Americana, alternative acoustic, folk, singer-songwriters and world beat music. The Globe is one of a select number of reporting stations to the Americana Airplay Chart. It provides 24-hour programming, which includes music, news, public affairs and sports. Visit www.globeradio.org for live streaming.

The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, Inc., is a not for profit educational association and foundation founded in 1940, by Dr. George Abraham, Ph.D. and David W. Borst. It has more than 1,000 college/school, webcasting and podcasting members in the United States.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College Acting News Bureau Coordinator Alysha Bergey Landis at (574) 535-7762 or alyshabl@goshen.edu.

### 

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s ”America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College’s radio station WGCS 91.1FM-The Globe (www.globeradio.org) isn’t a huge operation, but the sounds coming out of it are making a big impact.Competing against every college and university in the country of all sizes, the student-operated station was named this year’s Best College Station in the Nation on March 12 at the 71st Annual Conference of the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) in New York City. The IBS is the oldest college radio association in the country. The station’s General Manager Jason Samuel and a group of his students who work at the station were on hand to win the award.

“I am so proud of them,” Samuel said. “Emotionally, I am happier about this than I have ever been winning awards for my individual work. For a group of industry professionals to examine our work and determine our station is number one, that says a lot about what our students are doing and the excellence of their work.”

Entrants seeking the award each submitted an audition recording featuring different kinds of programming that was then reviewed by judges from across the radio industry. The Globe was selected along with DePaul University of Chicago – a college with 25,000 students, which won the award last year – as the overall finalists, and then The Globe came out on top. This is the first time that the college’s radio station has won a national award.

“This competition is for all of IBS’s members, of all sizes. I like that we are all in the same pool, because when our students graduate and want to get a broadcasting job, they will be competing with everyone anyway,” Samuel said. “Our students are committed to their craft, and being recognized by the IBS shows that they can compete with anyone for jobs at any level when they are done here.”

In addition, individual students won national awards. Senior Trisha Handrich, a communication major from Goshen, received a first place award for the Best Promotional Series. Sophomore Jimmy Cassoday, a broadcasting major from Whiting, Ind., received first place for Best Specialty Music Show. And sophomore Benjamin Kelly, a broadcasting major from LaGrange, Ind., won first place for Best Sports Talk Show. The college had eight finalists in seven categories.

The Globe has been on the air since 1958, is managed by members of the Goshen College Communication Department and is staffed by about 40 student workers and community volunteers. It is one of the college’s significant co-curricular activities, preparing students to become broadcast professionals while providing a service to the Michiana community.

“Unlike most schools, when you come to Goshen College and join the Communication Department, you can get plugged into working at The Globe or any of our co-curriculars right away in your first year,” Samuel said. “This makes our station stronger because our students have ownership, they are engaged, they are excited and they want to do better every time.”

Each week The Globe features a fresh and eclectic mix of Americana, alternative acoustic, folk, singer-songwriters and world beat music. The Globe is one of a select number of reporting stations to the Americana Airplay Chart. It provides 24-hour programming, which includes music, news, public affairs and sports.

The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, Inc., is a not for profit educational association and foundation founded in 1940, by Dr. George Abraham, Ph.D. and David W. Borst. It has over 1,000 college/school, webcasting and podcasting members in the United States.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

### 

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

“We started to do a lot of research back in October,” said Samuel, a 1993 Goshen College graduate. “Out of that research came the recommendation that we modify our programming on WGCS. The radio market we are part of has three classical radio stations. We don’t want to duplicate, let alone triplicate, programming. And when you are doing two different things – classical and folk music – it creates confusion. By making the transition to one format, when listeners tune in it will be consistent. That said, we have a vision for increasing the broadcast exposure of Music Department performances.

“Listeners will have access to a brand of music and programs not currently an option on their radios. “The Globe” is a fresh, new, vibrant format. It will be informative and contemporary,” he said. “It’s a new dawn at 91.1.”

The decision to reformat the station’s programming and create a new identity was reviewed by a committee of campus and community representatives, including music department faculty and experienced radio broadcasters. The decision is also based on the needs of students and helping to prepare them for future careers in radio, as the station is staffed by Goshen College students and community volunteers.

“Though this is an educational, noncommercial public radio station, we’re going to make it as commercial of an experience as possible for students to help them move into the career world of radio,” said Samuel, who was named Indiana Sportscaster of the Year by the Indiana Sportscaster Association in 1998 and 2001.

“We want to energize students and for them to know they can come here and learn on par with large universities and get plugged in right away to gain four years of broadcast industry experience. If we are going to train students to be viable employees in the radio industry, they have to do things here like they will face in their future jobs.”

The station’s new identity as “The Globe” connects to the college’s emphasis of being global citizens and encouraging international education. “We already had international programming, but we are enhancing that with the increase in Americana and world beat music programming,” Samuel said. “We will be ‘your public radio music station.’”

A new addition, “World Café,” public radio’s most popular music program, will broadcast from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The Globe” will offer contemporary music featuring an eclectic blend of Americana, world, folk and bluegrass music, in addition to public affairs and religious broadcasts. The Globe is one of a select number of reporting stations to the Americana Airplay Chart. Americana is American roots music based on the traditions of country, but also includes influences ranging from folk to bluegrass to blues and beyond.

Many of the previous features of 91.1 FM will continue. Saturday mornings will still air the local Spanish radio program, “Momento de Gozo,” and church and worship programming will still air on Sunday mornings. The current syndicated programming will also continue, and the commitment to Goshen College athletics. And “Crossings” – an original 91.1 FM program offering nightly Americana music – celebrates it’s 10^th year in January 2005. Listeners around the globe will also still be able to access the station’s 24-hour broadcasts live via the Internet at http://www.globeradio.org/, in addition to on the radio.

91.1 FM The Globe, on the air since 1958, is managed by members of the Goshen College Communication Department. It is one of the college’s significant co-curricular activities, preparing students to become broadcast professionals while providing a service to the Michiana community.

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” Kaplan’s “Most Interesting Colleges” guide and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit http://www.goshen.edu/.

Editors: For more information, contact News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

WGCS General Manager Jason Samuel, a 1993 Goshen College graduate, said, “The extensive folk music programming we offer is not available anywhere else in this region. Folk music lovers and Goshen College alumni who live afar can now have a constant connection to the college and all that we offer on WGCS. The Internet is another part of giving people a reason to listen.”

WGCS, staffed by Goshen College students and community volunteers, is also broadcasting live many of the Goshen College men’s and women’s basketball games this winter, both home and away. These too are available via Web cast during the time of the game only.

“It is unprecedented that a school of our size is broadcasting their entire men’s and women’s basketball conference schedule on the radio and the Internet,” said Samuel, who was named Indiana Sportscaster of the Year by the Indiana Sportscaster Association in 1998 and 2001. “How do you put a price on the ability to live in Florida and listen to your grandchild play college basketball in northern Indiana?”

WGCS 91.1 FM offers a rich assortment of quality programming, including classical and folk music, public affairs and religious broadcasts. The station, on the air since 1958, is staffed primarily by student and community volunteers and is managed by members of the Goshen College Communication Department. It is one of the college’s major co-curricular activities, preparing students to become broadcast professionals while providing a service to the Michiana community.

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values — passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership — prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, Kaplan’s “Most Interesting Colleges” guide and U.S.News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit http://www.goshen.edu/.

Editors: For more information, contact Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.