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K-State Today

March 7, 2023

K-State's Wildcat 91.9 named best college radio station in nation

Submitted by Anne Bryant

After receiving a school record of 18 nominations prior to the annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting Awards ceremony in New York City on Feb. 24-25, Kansas State University's Wildcat 91.9, KSDB-FM, was recognized as Best College/University Radio Station for schools with more than 10,000 students. 

Wildcat 91.9 also sealed its status as the winner of the Abraham and Borst Award for Best College Station in the Nation.

Two students were also honored for individual achievement: senior and program/news director Dawson Wagner received the trophy for best news feature, and Kolby Van Camp, Wildcat 91.9's sports executive producer and fundraising director, was recognized as best graduate assistant.

Along with the Best College/University Radio Station for schools with more than 10,000 students and the Abraham and Borst Award for Best Overall College Station in the Nation, Wildcat 91.9, a division of Wildcat Electronic Media with partner KKSU-TV, Channel 8, tied with Temple University for the most awards — four — at this year's ceremony.

"I'm extremely proud of all the work everyone has done this last year to make this possible," Wagner said. "I am ecstatic and beyond grateful to be in the position I am with getting to work with our team, and I look forward to everyone continuing to put in the good work here at Wildcat 91.9."

"Wildcat 91.9 has always attracted talented K-State students in both on- and off-air positions," said the station's chief operator and faculty advisor Ian Punnett. "But in the last two years, I put a bigger emphasis on recruiting a more diverse creative base and we've seen that pay off in the quality and inclusiveness of the on-air product."

For example, last year at the Kansas Association of Broadcaster's annual student awards, Wildcat 91.9 staff took 11 out of 16 first-place finishes.

"When I joined Wildcat 91.9, I had two main goals for the station: become nationally competitive within five years and become financially self-sustaining," Punnett said. "But it was only because I was working with this group of super talented, super committed multi-platform content creators that we won Best College Station in the Nation in four years. This was their achievement. Students are learning on five different levels, the community is engaged and K-State's reputation as one of the premiere media schools in the country is growing."

Greg Paul, director of the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication, said, "Wildcat 91.9 is an example of what can happen when talented and dedicated students and faculty work together to create an outstanding experience, and we're excited to grow those experiences for students going forward."

Wildcat 91.9 is open to all students, regardless of major. Join or learn more information. To support the station, visit the website or contact Ian Punnett.

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