WONC Honored at Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards in New York

North Central College’s student-run radio station, WONC FM 89.1, was nominated for 12 national Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) awards, including Best College/University Radio Station among schools with fewer than 10,000 students. Station staff members Sam Fretto ‘24, Jesse Hudgins ‘24, Chloe Kallberg ‘24 and Olivia Rosenberg ‘25 attended the awards ceremony in New York City on March 2, 2024.

The station took home one award for Best Sports Play-By-Play (Baseball/Softball) for NCC Baseball vs. Augustana. Sam Fretto ‘24 accepted the honor on behalf of himself and Andy Jachim ‘24.  

The IBS awards were the latest recognition for WONC this year. Last October, the station won four Student Silver Dome Awards at the 2023 Illinois Broadcast Awards (IBA) held in Normal, Ill. WONC had been nominated for 15 awards across seven categories.

Both current North Central students and recent alumni were among the IBS winners, since award recipients were recognized for submissions from the 2022-2023 academic year:

• Sam Corbett '24 and Andy Jachim '24 won for Best Radio/TV Live Game Sports Broadcast for Cardinal football's 2022 NCAA championship win over Mount Union. 
• Zane Trumann '23, Jesse Hudgins '24 and Austin Paulson '24 won Best Radio Spot for their ad for Window Works. 
• Zach Belles '23 and Adrian Martinez '23 took home the award for Best Newscast. Trumann also won for Best Radio Aircheck. 

“To receive multiple awards in one year speaks to the great professionalism our students possess, and that the quality of the content they produce stands up to other college radio stations,” said Zach DeWitz ’05, WONC general manager.

“When WONC is recognized as a top performing radio station, it shows that our students are dedicated to upholding the professional standards that were set here decades ago, and that the tradition of excellence that has been carried through generations of WONC staffers continues to flourish,” he added. “It shows that the students are working harder than ever, expanding their skills more than ever, and exceeding even our own expectations.”