Radio Station of the Year Award goes to Avondale High School

Michigan Association of Broadcasters names Avondale High School WAHS “Radio Station of the Year”

The Avondale High School student-run radio station, WAHS 89.5, has been named the Michigan High School Radio Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB). The station has undergone significant changes in the past year thanks to the leadership of Avondale High School teacher, Kim McKnee, and a group of students committed to boosting listenership through innovative programming and investing time, grant funding and resources into equipment enhancements. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed in the world of high school radio as many of the students were also recently recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB).

Each year, MAB promotes education and advancement in the broadcasting industry by honoring outstanding achievement in high school radio. Students from around the state are recognized for their on-air talents as well as for technical achievements.

Avondale High School students named as 2017 Michigan Association of Broadcasters Student Award Winners:

– Talk Show – A talk show program that is no more than 30 minutes in length featuring issues of social importance, “how-to” programming, or sports talk (judged on presentation, production value and overall impact): Dominic Amatulli, Mitchell Payne, Carly Gordon and Tristan Shim second place for “German National Week”; and Brandon Wynn and Connie Rahbany honorable mention for “Pledge of Allegiance Talk”.

– On-Air Personality or Team – Best on-air broadcast personality or broadcast team (judged on production value, effectiveness and creativity): Gabrielle Loche, Dominic Amatulli and David Walters second place for “Around the World – Germany”; and Joseph Pastori honorable mention for “On-Air Personality”.

– Ok2Say Public Service Announcement – An announcement regarding putting a stop to bullying not more than 60 seconds in length. Must be written, produced and aired (judged on creativity, effectiveness and production value): Mitchell Payne first place for “Self-Harm”; and Rachel Delaney and Tristan Shim honorable mention for “Bullying PSA”.

– Public Service Announcement – An announcement of general public interest, not more than 60 seconds in length. Must be written, produced and aired (judged on creativity, effectiveness and production value): Amir Wilson-Mayo first place for “My Brother has Autism”; Carly Gordon second place for “Texting and Driving”; and David Walter honorable mention for “Drowsy Driving”.

– Sports Public Service Announcement – A PSA that is 30 seconds in completed length promoting sportsmanship and officials recruitment (judged on creativity, effectiveness and production value): Dominic Amatulli, David Walters and Ethan Savage second place for “Being Babies is Poor Sportsmanship”.

– Sports Announcing Team – Broadcast of a sports announcing team at a sporting event that is no more than five (5) minutes in length (judged on presentation and production value): Jacob Boyce, Mitchell Payne and Steven Sawyers honorable mention for “Basketball 2”.

– Digital Media Experience – Use of digital media as it pertains to station branding and the overall audience experience. Entries should include one or more of the following: use of the Internet, social media, mobile devices, apps, podcasts, or other forms of digital media that is used in conjunction with your station branding (judged on innovation, creativity and effectiveness): Mitchell Payne second place.

– Most Innovative Media Technology – Entry must be solely created and produced by the entering student(s) and focus on media technology as it pertains to the broadcasting or media industry (judged on innovation, creativity, effectiveness, relatability to the broadcasting or media industry): Mitchell Payne first place.

– Current Events Program – Current events program that is no more than 5 minutes in length. Content should include current events or political events (judged on human interest, subject portrayal and production value): Gabrielle Loche, Dominic Amatulli and David Walters first place for “Current Events ATW Japan”.

The students received their awards at a special reception where MBA also announced WAHS 89.5 as its choice for High School Radio Station of the Year.