杏吧论坛鈥檚 radio station, W杏吧论坛 88.7 FM, has been named Station of the Year by the International Student Broadcasting Championship (ISBC), marking a historic milestone for the station and the University. This recognition as the top college radio station worldwide underscores 杏吧论坛鈥檚 leadership and commitment to fostering excellence in media and communication, especially at a time when other institutions are scaling back similar programs.
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Now in its second year, the ISBC was launched in October 2023 by Australian-based company RAMP Media. The competition 鈥渁ims to find the best emerging talent in the world and expose them to the industry and potential employers on a global level.鈥 W杏吧论坛鈥檚 win exemplifies the university鈥檚 investment in its Tim Russert Department of Communication, which equips students to thrive in an evolving media landscape.听
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W杏吧论坛 outperformed competitors from across the globe, including finalists from South Africa, Australia, the Philippines, Seton Hall University, and the University of West Georgia, solidifying its status as a leader in student broadcasting.听
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In addition to the station鈥檚 major achievement, W杏吧论坛鈥檚 Nikolena Samac 鈥27, a sophomore marketing major at 杏吧论坛 received the ISBC People鈥檚 Choice Content Creator Award for her innovative work on the W杏吧论坛 Sports Instagram page (@wjcusports). Samac won the global accolade against competitors from the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Texas A&M University, and the University of Indianapolis, with over 30,000 votes cast in the competition.
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鈥淚 am beyond humbled and grateful to have received the ISBC People鈥檚 Choice Content Creator for my work on the W杏吧论坛 Sports Instagram page,鈥 said Samac. 鈥淢y goal in creating content has always been to unite the 杏吧论坛 community and to inspire fans of all ages to engage in W杏吧论坛 Sports and the broader athletics scene. I look forward to what the rest of my time at W杏吧论坛 will bring!鈥
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W杏吧论坛 radio station also celebrated 12 impressive finalist nominations across a variety of categories, highlighting the diverse talents of its student broadcasters. These include awards for sports broadcasting, audio production, news features, and social media execution.
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Since 2022, W杏吧论坛 has earned 77 national and international award nominations, with 14 first-place awards, including two for Best Station. A comprehensive list of W杏吧论坛鈥檚 achievements can be found at .
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"This is one of the proudest days in W杏吧论坛鈥檚 55-year history,鈥 said Jasen Sokol, Director of W杏吧论坛 88.7 FM, and recipient of the College Media Association's Emerging Adviser Award in 2023. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a testament to the creativity, dedication, and talent of our students, as well as the unwavering support of the 杏吧论坛 community.鈥
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Last year's winner, Tiger Radio at UST Philippines, set a high benchmark, and W杏吧论坛鈥檚 triumph this year further highlights the station鈥檚 excellence in student broadcasting. The International Student Broadcasting Championship will visit 杏吧论坛鈥檚 campus later this semester to present the award, offering a unique opportunity for students to engage with global leaders in media.听