‘Small but mighty’ WGCS brings home more national awards
**Correction: The original story incorrectly stated that 91.1 The Globe (WGCS) was ‘named’ the “Best College Radio Station” among institutions with fewer than 10,000 students. The Globe was nominated for “Best College Radio Station” but did not win.
It was a familiar feeling on Saturday night in New York City. Jason Samuel, assistant professor of communication and general manager of 91.1 The Globe (WGCS), along with a group of 15 Goshen College students, listened as college radio winners were announced.
As usual, Goshen College was well represented.
WGCS was a finalist for “Best College Radio Station” among institutions with fewer than 10,000 students enrolled at the 75th annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) conference on March 7. The Globe also received three national individual first place honors and four other individual nominations.
Tony Miller, a 2014 graduate, won “Best Basketball Play by Play;” Victor Garcia, a junior from Goshen, won “Best Live Music Broadcast;” and Ashley Davenport, a junior from Plymouth, Indiana, won “Best Underwriting Campaign.”
Other national finalists include Andrew Snyder, a sophomore from Goshen, for “Most Innovative Program;” Danielle Kerschhackl, a senior from Elmwood Park, Illinois, for “Best Community New Coverage;” Dalton Shetler, a sophomore from Spencerville, Indiana, for “Best Sports Update;” and Davenport for “Best Newscast.” The WGCS staff was also a finalist for “Best Social Media Campaign.”
“Our students work so hard,” Samuel said. “We have a reputation and a culture that exemplifies success. We’re small but mighty.”
WGCS has been named “Best College Radio Station in the Nation” among all colleges and universities twice (2011 and 2013), the only station to claim the title more than once. This is the fifth time that the station has been nominated for the national award.
“To be named a finalist for the fifth consecutive year for IBS is such a great honor,” said Kerschhackl, who is the student station manager. “It is evidence of how hard everyone at The Globe works. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a respected radio station, and I can not wait to see what other achievements lie ahead.
This year’s competition attracted more than 4,000 entries in 40 different categories. Finalists were chosen from the top ten percent of all national entries from colleges and universities of all sizes from across the country. This year more than four times as many entries were judged compared to 2014, with a record number of stations receiving at least one nomination.
“The competition gets more and more fierce each year,” Samuel said. “There were 70 different schools represented, and we won multiple awards. That’s a big deal for us.”
WGCS has been on the air since 1958 and is staffed by about 40 student workers and community volunteers. It is one of the college’s most popular co-curricular activities, preparing students to become broadcast professionals while providing a service to the Michiana community.