News Releases   »   2008   »   November

Ithaca College's 92 WICB Earns Honors As Top College Radio Station

ITHACA, NY — Ithaca College’s 92 WICB has been named the top college radio station in the country in a contest sponsored by mtvU, the nation’s largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. As part of its fifth annual Woodie Awards, mtvU for the first time this year honored a college radio station for its commitment to bringing students the latest indie and emerging music. Twenty stations were nominated, with WICB winning the inaugural Woodie Award for Best College Radio Station following the results of online voting.

MTV host Kim Stoltz came to campus to surprise the WICB staff with the news that they had won the award. The presentation of the Woodie — a 10-pound chunk of wood — in the WICB studio was taped for use at the awards ceremony, which was held November 12 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

Invited to attend the ceremony on behalf of the station were students Josh Giordano (Station Manager), Nate Hodge (Program Director), Chelsea Boryca (Promotions Director), Lee Small (Sports Director) and Aaron Terkel (Jazz and Specialty Director), along with manager of radio operations Chris Wheatley.

“This award was obviously a real team effort since there are over 100 people who are involved at the station,” said Giordano. “We have to thank our fans, our listeners, and our alumni for their dedication to the station and for voting for us. Winning the award just confirms that what we do on a daily basis is worth the time and effort.”

“Winning was pretty sweet, but being at the awards show and sitting in the VIP section was totally surreal for all of us,” said Boryca. “As the promotions director I get to interact with the Ithaca community a lot, and I think this award illustrates the strength of our relationship there. We won this award not just because of our great staff, but because of the amazing people of Ithaca.”

Among the performers at the Woodie Awards were student favorites Santogold, Vampire Weekend and All Time Low. Woodies were also handed out in categories that honored the artist of the year, best video, best emerging artist, best tour and artist with the greatest social impact.

The awards show will air on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. on mtvU and mtvu.com. A half-hour special, “Best of the mtvU Woodie Awards,” will be shown on MTV2 on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. and on MTV on Nov. 22 at 10 p.m. Special presentations will also air on MTV News, MTV Hits, MTV Jams and MTV Soundtrack.

In operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, WICB is a student-run station that broadcasts on 91.7 FM from the Roy H. Park School of Communications. It boasts a 4,100-watt signal broadcasting from the Pennsylvania border to Lake Ontario, and can be heard around the world via streaming audio at wicb.org. For more information on WICB, contact Chris Wheatley at wheatley@ithaca.edu

Dedicated to every aspect of college life, mtvU can be seen in the dining areas, fitness centers, student lounges and dorm rooms of more than 750 college campuses and is carried by cable distributors in 700 college communities nationwide. Its programming features music videos from emerging artists, news, student life features and initiatives that give college students the tools to advance positive social change. For more information, visit www.mtvU.com.