From top left, clockwise: WKNC’s DMC Woodstock interviews Machine Girl, graphic by Sophia Cunningham. Sarah Hernando in the music director's office, photo by Josie Lacey. Best of WKNC 2025 medal, photo by Ryann Horn. Double Barrel Benefit 21 poster, graphic by Ryann Horn.
On April 7, student radio station WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 announced its inaugural Best of WKNC award winners.
“Each year, more than 100 students spend time DJing or creating content for WKNC and the Best of WKNC awards are a way to honor the exemplary talent we have on our staff,” said Jamie Lynn Gilbert, Student Media Associate Director and WKNC’s adviser.
Sarah Hernando, Daytime (indie rock) Music Director, was honored as Best DJ for “Scrimble’s Bad Music Hour.”
“Every Thursday night at midnight, Scrimble unleashes her Bad Music Hour, a celebration of music’s most unconventional corners,” Hernando wrote in her submission. “From Minecraft parodies and Glee covers to TikTok hits and Eurovision anthems, no genre is too quirky—or too ‘bad’—for the Bad Music Hour. In this program, Scrimble analyzes the concept of ‘bad music,’ challenging listeners to embrace the joy of an embarrassing music taste while playing cat-themed music with Reggie. Bad Music Hour is more than a show—it’s a rebellion against the mundane and pretentious, proving that even the weirdest tunes can be unforgettable.”
Spencer Grattan, Afterhours (electronic) Music Director, won the Best Interview award for his conversation with Matt Stephenson of Machine Girl and concertgoers in November 2024. DJ Sophia Cunningham provided graphics for the interview and podcast.
Ryann Horn, Social Media Content Creator, won Best Graphic Design for her work on WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit 21 concert poster.
“As a Social Media Content Creator for WKNC, I’ve designed many graphics for both print and social media, but working on posters for Double Barrel Benefit has been my most exciting project,” Horn wrote in her submission. “Designing for DBB 20 and 21 was not only an incredible honor but also an amazing learning experience. For DBB 21, I was tasked with creating a Valentine’s-themed poster, which challenged me to approach the design from an interesting perspective and resulted in a piece I’m especially proud of. Now, as a senior, I’m reflecting on the skills I’ve gained and the work I’ve created in this role. I’m excited to take these experiences with me after graduation!”
The contest was announced in February, with nominations solicited from staff through March 15. Entries were voted on by current staff, with winners announced on April 7 in an online ceremony. Each winner received an engraved medal.
WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 announced its inaugural Best of WKNC Awards in an April 7 online ceremony.
WKNC station adviser Jamie Lynn Gilbert (right) and general manager Rose Kelley (middle) presented “I’m in Charge. Now What?!” with Steven Hames (left) of Berry College. The annual favorite tackles importance leadership issues like writing job descriptions, setting goals, running effective meetings, conflict resolution, delegation and time management. Photo by Sarah Hernando.
WKNC General Manager Rose Kelley and Station Adviser Jamie Lynn Gilbert presented “I’m In Charge. Now What?” at the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Media Convention Oct. 23-26 in Seattle. Steven Hames of Viking Fusion at Berry College joined the WKNC crew for the presentation. The long-running session offers practical advice on how to manage a student-run electronic media outlet as a new leader including writing job descriptions, setting goals, running effective meetings, conflict resolution, delegation and time management.
Kelley was also joined by Clara Ketchell from KJHK at University of Kansas for “The Ins and Outs of Managing a Content Team.” Both former content managers, Kelley and Ketchell offered advice on how to handle teams of bloggers, videographers, interviewers, podcasters and sportscasters. Besides managing communication and deadlines, a key takeaway from the session was to train your staff how to do their job properly, offering gentle correction as needed, so the content manager doesn’t spend all their time fixing mistakes.
Gilbert presented “Digital Accessibility for Student Media,” which underscored the importance of providing transcripts for all podcasts and videos, alt text on images for websites and social media, and ensuring designs have appropriate color contrast. Gilbert gave the same presentation at Student Media’s department-wide training day on Sept. 21.
Promotions Director Mason Baker, Public Affairs Director Emilia Rivadeneira, Daytime Music Director Sarah Hernando and Program Director Willow Sessions joined Kelley and Jennette and Gilbert at the convention.
More than 400 students, advisers/managers and professionals from around the country attended the three-day event. As part of the educational mission of Student Media, WKNC publishes the students’ summaries (PDF) so others can learn from the conference.
WKNC DJ Emma Bookhardt was named best DJ personality in the College Media Association’s Film and Audio Festival. Photo contributed by Emma Bookhardt.
A WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 DJ has been named among the best in the country.
Emma Bookhardt, a third-year student studying English and communication, earned first place in the best DJ personality category in College Media Association’s 2024 Film and Audio Festival. On the air as Bodhi, Bookhardt hosts “Reel-to-Reel,” a weekly two-hour program that takes a deep dive into the intersection of movies and music. In her award-winning submission, she examined the 1977 classic “Smokey and the Bandit” with music from the film and the time period explored it in. Other episodes have explored “Dazed and Confused,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “Animal House.” “Reel-to-Reel” airs Fridays from 8-10 a.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM.
Film and Audio Festival winners were announced at the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association’s Fall National College Media Convention, held Oct. 29-Nov. 2 in New Orleans.
College Media Association also presented its individual and organizational Pinnacle awards at the convention. WKNC Public Affairs Content Creator Ellie Feaga, who graduated in May 2024, was awarded third place for audio newscast for “Eye on the Triangle Weekly News Jan. 29, 2024.” WKNC was also named third place for Radio Station of the Year. This was WKNC’s ninth year as a finalist for the award.
WKNC also received honors from the College Media Business and Advertising Managers at their national convention Nov. 7-9 in Philadelphia.
Bookhardt’s “Reel-to-Reel” took another top finish, this time in Best Digital Self Promotion Ad for “Reel-to-Reel Presents: Hello, I’m…Johnny Knoxville?” The March 8, 2024 episode included tracks by Johnny Cash, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Guided by Voices.
Emma Bookhardt won first in Digital Self Promotion Ad for her “Reel-to-Reel” episode featuring music from and inspired by the “Jackass The Movie.”
WKNC’s final award was second place Best Promotion Audio Ad for “Jazz in my Radio” to advertise WKNC’s “Sunset” jazz music block, airing Sundays from 6 p.m. to midnight. The ad was voiced by Spencer Grattan, a fourth-year student studying computer science, and produced by Claire Conklin, a May 2024 graduate.
Emilia Rivadeneira (left), a fourth-year student studying political science and communication, welcomed Zania Sanders (middle), a third-year student studying science, technology and society and AYA Ambassador at the African American Cultural Center, and Annabelle Rossi (right), a third-year student studying political science and President of Students for Immigrant Rights and Equality, to discuss their views on the 2024 election as part of 24-hour live coverage from college students across the country. Photo by Jamie Lynn Gilbert.
Student radio station WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 joined college media outlets nationwide to provide 24-hour election coverage as part of Student News Live.
Created as a non-partisan news hub to amplify the voices of student journalists, Student News Live coordinated a live audio and video feed starting at noon ET on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Marshall University from Huntington, West Virginia started and ended the 24-hour broadcast and was joined by student journalists from North Carolina State University, William Paterson University (NJ), Wayne State College (NE), Harrison High School (GA), Syracuse University (NY), State University of New York at Old Westbury, Ohio University, Metropolitan State University (CO), Grand Valley State University (MI), Kutztown University (PA), University of Texas-Arlington, Ashland University (OH), University of West Georgia, Santa Monica College (CA), Texas A&M University, California State University-Fullerton, University of California-Berkley, University of Cork (Ireland) and Centenary University (NJ).
WKNC at NC State took the midnight to 1 a.m. slot. Public affairs director and “Eye on the Triangle” host Emilia Rivadeneira, a fourth-year student studying political science and communication, divided her hour into two, 30-minute segments.
Rivadeneira was joined live by Mac McCorkle, Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, and Elizabeth Lane, Assistant Professor of Political Science at NC State. They offered an analysis of the election results, including the impact of Donald Trump’s win in North Carolina, the N.C. Supreme Court race, the citizenship voting amendment, and the future of North Carolina voting patterns. The interview was simulcast on Student News Live and WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 and recorded for YouTube.
WKNC then considered how NC State students felt about the election in a conversation with Annabelle Rossi, a third-year student studying political science and President of Students for Immigrant Rights and Equality, and Zania Sanders, a third-year student studying science, technology and society and AYA Ambassador at the African American Cultural Center. They discussed anxiety about the election, what issues were important to college students, youth voter turnout and influences, and the role of student organizations in election advocacy.
“Collectively, we created a nationwide student journalism broadcast that offered the audience something new: the perspective of the younger generation of Americans,” wrote Rob Quicke, professor and director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University and co-founder of Student News Live, in a post-broadcast news release. “Topics and issues of interest to this generation were probably only covered by Student News Live, and not heard elsewhere. It’s important that we shared those voices and reported from the communities that don’t get a platform or opportunity to communicate on other forms of media.”
Student News Live had more than 1,700 YouTube views on their livestream. The election coverage was produced in partnership with iHeartRadio, PBS News Student Reporting Labs and West Virgina Public Broadcasting.
From left, Sophia Cunningham, Erie Mitchell, Claire Conklin, Rose Kelley, Nick Pinto, Jamie Lynn Gilbert and Spencer Grattan accepted awards for Best Podcast, Best Video Promo and Best DJ at the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Production Awards Oct. 21 in Orlando.
NC State Student Media was honored by four different college media organizations this fall.
College Media Association (CMA), the nation’s largest organization dedicated to serving collegiate media advisers, presented individual and organizational Pinnacle awards, as well as honors in its Film and Audio Festival, at the National College Media Convention Oct. 29-Nov. 2 in Atlanta.
WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 won second place Radio Station of the Year in the Organizational Pinnacle awards for Division I. All Pinnacle finalists are in the Division I category for schools with an undergraduate enrollment of 10,000 or more.
Nubian Message, a biweekly publication serving NC State’s Black community, received an honorable mention for Periodic Newspaper of the Year, newspapers that publish two to three times a month. This is Nubian’s first nomination for this award.
WKNC received three Pinnacle awards in the video/audio category. KONDE Brown, a fourth-year student studying communication and the station’s 2022-2023 production manager, shares second place for Best Audio Promo/PSA with Maddy Moore, a fourth-year student in textile technology. The promo is for Moore’s “The Doghouse” DJ shift, which currently airs Fridays at 11 a.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1.
Third place for Best Audio Talk/Entertainment Program was awarded to the “On Island.” episode of “On Black.” The program, which airs every other Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 and is available as a podcast, is hosted by Alexis Grant, a third-year student studying material science engineering, Jeanine Ikekhua, a fourth-year student studying communication and international studies, and Hamsata Mazou, a third-year student studying business administration. In the “On Island.” episode the hosts discuss how they would structure their own island, including who would be allowed in and what rules would be established.
Carter Norfleet, a third-year student studying English-creative writing and one of WKNC’s video content creators, received an honorable mention for Best Short (sub-3 minute) Video for Entertainment, for “A Day with Art.”
Carter Norfleet’s “A Day with Art” received an honorable mention for best short (sub-3 minute) video for entertainment in CMA’s Pinnacle Awards.
Along with the Pinnacles, CMA holds a Film and Audio Festival at its convention, designed to encourage and promote excellence in student video and audio.
Katie Quesinberry, a third-year student studying chemical engineering who worked as one of WKNC’s video content creators, earned first place in the animation category. “WKNC Presents Double Barrel Benefit 19” was filmed using stop-monition animation, a package of cut-out stars from Target and a Scrabble tile set.
The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), the largest and oldest national membership organization for college student media in the U.S., also handed out awards at the National College Media Convention Oct. 29-Nov. 2 in Atlanta.
Jermaine Hudson, a third-year student studying social work and psychology, earned fifth place in Best Yearbook Page/Spread for “The next generation of FINER women” in ACP’s Design of the Year contest. He was also awarded an honorable mention for Best Yearbook cover. Hudson was Agromeck’s design editor in 2022-2023 and currently serves as the publication’s editor-in-chief.
ACP also holds a Best of Show contest for media outlets present at their national convention. Windhover, edited by Ryley Fallon, earned fourth place in literary arts magazine at a four-year campus. Agromeck, edited by Krishna Patel, also earned fourth place in yearbook.
Jermaine Hudson (left) and Hallie Walker show off Agromeck’s fourth place certificate in the Associated Collegiate Press’s Best of Show contest held at the National College Media Convention Oct. 29-Nov. 2 in Atlanta.
WKNC also earned three awards in the College Broadcasters, Inc.’s National Student Production Awards, presented Oct. 21 at the National Student Electronic Media Convention in Orlando.
Katie Quesinberry’s “WKNC Presents Double Barrel Benefit 19” won awards for Best Video Promo in the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Production Awards and Best Animation in the College Media Association Film and Audio Festival.
Rosie Rose, who graduated in August 2022 with a degree in communication media, won first place for Best DJ. Rose hosted “The Riot Hours” as Rainbow Riot. Rose was previously honored in the DJ personality category of the CMA Film and Audio Festival, earning first place in 2021 and second place in 2022.
Rose Kelley, a third-year student studying political science and the station’s content manager, earned second place for Best Podcast for the “Lincoln and Liberty Too!” episode of the U.S. political history podcast “In the West Wing.” The episode explores the chaotic presidential election of 1860 in which Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, Democrat Stephen A. Douglas and Constitutional Union candidate John Bell.
Finally, WKNC earned recognition from the College Media Business and Advertising Managers (CMBAM), a group that supports business operations for Student Media. KONDE Brown earned an honorable mention in the best audio ad/underwriting with an announcement for the NC State Institute for Advanced Analytics. It was awarded at the CMBAM annual convention Oct. 14 in Minneapolis.
Media Consultant Carter Fields (left) and Business and Marketing Adviser Zanna Swann accept an honorable mention for best audio ad/underwriting at the College Media Business and Advertising Managers convention Oct. 14 in Minneapolis.
WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 has earned three nominations in College Broadcasters, Inc.’s National Student Production Awards, which were announced Aug. 22.
Rosie Rose, who graduated in August 2022 with a degree in communication media, is a finalist for Best DJ. Rose hosted “The Riot Hours” as Rainbow Riot. Rose was previously honored in the DJ personality category of the College Media Association Film and Audio Festival, earning first place in 2021 and second place in 2022.
Rose Kelley, a third-year student studying political science and the station’s content manager, is a finalist for Best Podcast for the “Lincoln and Liberty Too!” episode of the U.S. political history podcast “In the West Wing.” The episode explores the chaotic presidential election of 1860 in which Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, Democrat Stephen A. Douglas and Constitutional Union candidate John Bell.
The third nomination is for Video Promo for Katie Quesinberry, a third-year student studying chemical engineering who worked as one of WKNC’s video content creators. The “WKNC Presents Double Barrel Benefit 19” promo was filmed using stop-monition animation, a package of cut-out stars from Target and a Scrabble tile set.
Winners will be announced at College Broadcasters, Inc.’s National Student Electronic Media Convention in Orlando on Oct. 21.
WKNC is also a finalist in the video/audio category of College Media Association’s Pinnacle awards, announced Sept. 6.
Carter Norfleet, a third-year student studying English-creative writing and one of WKNC’s video content creators, is a finalist for Best Short (sub-3 minute) Video for Entertainment, for “A Day with Art.” All finalists are in the Division I category for schools with an undergraduate enrollment of 10,000 or more.
KONDE Brown, a fourth-year student studying communication and the station’s 2022-2023 production manager, is a finalist for Best Audio Promo/PSA with Maddy Moore, a fourth-year student in textile technology. The promo is for Moore’s “The Doghouse” DJ shift, which currently airs Fridays at 11 a.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1.
The third Pinnacle nomination is for Best Audio Talk/Entertainment Program for the “On Island.” episode of “On Black.” The program, which airs every other Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 and is available as a podcast, is hosted by Alexis Grant, a third-year student studying material science engineering, Jeanine Ikekhua, a fourth-year student studying communication and international studies, and Hamsata Mazou, a third-year student studying business administration. In the “On Island” episode the hosts discuss how they would structure their own island, including who would be allowed in and what rules would be established.
WKNC was previously named a finalist for best radio station by College Media Association in this year’s Pinnacle awards.
Winners will be announced at the College Media Association’s National College Media Convention in Atlanta on Oct. 31.
Along with the National Student Production Awards and Pinnacle Awards, NC State is a finalist for at least one award in the College Media Business and Advertising Managers annual contest. While no specifics were given, the award(s) will be presented Oct. 14 at the organization’s annual convention in Minneapolis.
Student radio station WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 received its first-ever award from College Media Business and Marketing Managers (CMBAM) in an awards ceremony at the organization’s annual convention on March 20.
A donor announcement for Live Nation’s Greensky Bluegrass concert produced by Romir Seth was awarded first place best audio ad or underwriting spot.
WKNC also received an honorable mention for best self-promotion audio ad for an underwriting and social media promo written by Gab Scaff and produced by Tegan Kelleher.
The radio station took a second honorable mention for best non-advertisement multimedia project for a station tour produced by Minh Pham with Laura Mooney and Erika Bass.
Student Media is seeking candidates for three at-large student positions on its Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 academic year.
The Student Media Board of Directors, which also includes appointed students, professional and academic representatives, and the top student leader of each Student Media outlet, meets monthly during the academic year to help shape the vision and direction of the Student Media, including hiring top editors/managers and overseeing the budget.
Interested students must file an intent to run form with Student Government and follow all rules set forth by Student Government to be included on the spring ballot. The one-year term runs from May 1 to April 30. Books are open Feb. 12-21 with the election scheduled for March 15-16.
Positions are open to all students not currently involved with Student Media who meet eligibility requirements set forth for student leaders in University Regulation 11.55.6. Those requirements include being a full-time NC State student, having a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of election and having no active disciplinary sanctions.
The Student Media Board of Directors meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. and will meet virtually until further notice.
NC State Student Media includes Agromeck yearbook, a business and marketing office, Nubian Message biweekly Black newspaper, Roundabout quarterly magazine, Technician weekly newspaper, Windhover literary and visual arts magazine, and radio station WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2.
NC State Student Media will host a Sidewalk Café on Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Harris Field.
Interested students can drop by this outdoor open house for free coffee and cocoa (while supplies last) and learn about entry-level paid and volunteer positions within Student Media. More than 300 students are involved with Student Media each year in writing, design, photography, videography, DJing, sales, social media and marketing roles.
Other Winter Welcome Week activities include:
Nubian Message Virtual Interest Meeting on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. over Zoom
WKNC DJ Interest Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. over Zoom
WKNC DJ Internet Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. over Zoom
Technician Virtual Open House on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. over Zoom
Technician Virtual Open House on Friday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. over Zoom
Country music artist Rissi Palmer comes to NC State’s Centennial Campus on Friday, Oct. 23 for Live@the Lot, a drive-in concert experience sponsored by NC State LIVE and Visit Centennial Campus.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with music at 6:30 p.m. Local food trucks will be on hand to deliver food to vehicles. Vehicle pre-registration is required.
Learn more about the event and COVID-19 precautions.
