PENDLETON — WEEM radio students and staff from Pendleton Heights High School were finalists for 43 national awards and ended up winning 16 in multiple categories at the 78th Annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Conference Saturday, March 3, in New York City.
The students and station were nominated in more than 30 categories, including several that WEEM had already won by virtue of having all of the finalists in a given category.
Most of the programming submitted for the national awards ceremony was from the routine work students performed.
Station manager Chris Green brought more than 20 years of broadcasting and journalism experience to the station last year.
In addition to daily programming, students produce hundreds of hours of Arabians sports coverage each year, broadcasting more than 100 games.
The students also are responsible for seeking donors and sponsorship to help run the station and supplement school funding.
WEEM, which plays top 40 music, has been in operation since 1972 with live student DJs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on school days.
This marks the third year the station has competed in the national contest.
Students are not paid for their work at WEEM unless they do extra work outside of school hours, but they are graded for their efforts through the classes they take.
In addition to attending the awards ceremony, the students toured New York City.
WEEM won the following awards:
Best Sports Pre- or Post-Game Show — Sam Bannon
Best Community Outreach Program — WEEM Arabian Rumble
Best Promotional Poster — WEEM Arabian Rumble
Best Giveaway Item — WEEM Arabian Rumble
Best Press Release — WEEM Arabian Rumble
Best Podcast — WEEM’s Cheese ‘N’ Flash Show (Jackson Keesling and Austen Michael)
Best Show Promo — WEEM’s Cheese ‘N’ Flash Show (Jackson Keesling and Austen Michael)
Best Spot News Interview — WEEM at June Jmaboree (Jonah Griffard)
Best Sweeper/Liner — Austen Michael and Chaston Green
Best Morning Show — WEEM’s Em & Claire Show (Emily Harless & Claire Goodwin)
Best News Director — Emily Harless
Best Business Director — Garrett Nealon
Best Newsletter — WEEM (Paiton Keeney)
Best Training Manual — WEEM
Best Staff Training Method — WEEM
Tom Gibson Excellence in Engineering — WEEM (Greg Case and David Seal)
Runners Up:
Best High School Radio Station
Best Sports Play-By-Play (Other) — WEEM Soccer (Bryan Walker and Natalie Taylor)
Best Sports Talk Program — The Coach Richman Show
Best Sports Update — Sam Bannon
Best Sports Interview — Sam Bannon
Best Logo — WEEM The Coach Richman Show
Best Show Promotional Poster — WEEM Student Locker Signs
Best Website — 917weem.org
Best Use of Twitter — @917weem
Best Use of Youtube — WEEM’s Cheese ‘N’ Flash Show
Best Use of Social Media (Other) — WEEM Tune In
Best Mobile App
Best Newscast — Asia Mitchem
Best Campus News Update — WEEM Daily Announcements
Best Spot News Interview — WEEM at June Jamboree (Emily Harless)
Best Station Promo — WEEM Severe Weather (Austen Michael)
Best Event Promo — WEEM Arabian Rumble
Best Use of SFX —WEEM Severe (Austen Michael)
Best On-Air Talent —Ashton Crusmire
Best Celebrity Interview — Walker Humphrey with author David Humphrey
Best Sports Director — Sam Bannon
Best Station Manager — Chris Green
Best Overall On Air Schedule — WEEM
Best Overall Sports Coverage — WEEM
Best Station Playlist — WEEM
Best Station Facilities — WEEM
Best Station Contest/Promotion — WEEM Arabian Rumble