Radio Free Hillsdale Students pose with Michigan Association Radio Program of the Year award.
WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM won Station of the Year in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ College Audio competition, and The Collegian placed third for Michigan Press Association’ College Newspaper of the Year.
Fourteen journalism students received awards and three honorable mentions for their work in broadcast and print journalism during the 2021-22 school year.
Eight students received honors from MAB, including first place awards in three categories; six students received honors from MPA, including first place awards in two categories. Both competitions accept submissions from colleges across Michigan and announced results over Hillsdale’s spring break.
Scot Bertram, lecturer in journalism and general manager of WRFH, said the level of effort students devote to WRFH distinguishes it from other college stations and contributed to its win at the MAB awards.
“We have a dedicated group of students who are committed to producing the best content possible and who are determined to improve over time,” Bertram said. “I’m lucky to work with broadcasters and journalists who are willing to learn, listen to suggestions, and respond to constructive criticism about their shows and features and newscasts.”
First-place MAB winners include senior Josh Barker in the current events story category for “The Policy Corner: Michigan Affordable Housing and Property Taxes,” sophomore Megan Pidcock, junior Lauren Scott, and junior Maddy Welsh in the daily newscast/news feature category for “Collegian Week In Review;” and alumna Elena Lanning ’22 in the on-air personality or team category for “Elena Naborowski: Five Minute Myths.”
Barker, program director for WRFH, said he was thrilled about the station’s win and happy to see MAB recognized the quality of the station’s content. He said there’s something unique about Hillsdale students that makes WRFH stand out from other stations.
“Hillsdale students know how to communicate. It’s not just logic and rhetoric, but something deeper in the way we think and talk to each other in classes or on campus,” Baker said. “This is extremely conducive to what we do on the radio.”
Second place MAB winners include sophomore Lauren Smyth in the daily newscast/news feature category; Barker and sophomore Garrett Goolsby in the promotional announcement category; and alumna Rachel Kookogey in the talk show category. Barker, Goolsby, Kookogy, and Smyth also received honorable mentions.
Smyth received honors for two of her WRFH shows: a 5-minute weekly newscast called “Lauren Smyth News” and a shorter biweekly program called “Grammar Minute.”
Smyth said she’s been involved with WRFH since her first week on campus, and despite initial trepidation, she’s found the experience invaluable.
