WKNC 88.1 is well on its way to receiving the 2011 MTVu College Radio Woodie, thanks to community support.
The Woodies is an award show for college students pertaining to university radio stations.
WKNC is a 25,000 watt radio station that broadcasts throughout the Triangle and produces webcasts for listeners outside the area. According to the station’s website, WKNC aims to provide University students with knowledge they would need for a career in the broadcast industry. The station is a non-commercial radio station with an alternative program of indie rock, electronic, metal and underground hip-hop.
Jamie Lynn Gilbert, assistant coordinator for Student Media, said getting this far in the competition is surprising since it is WKNC’s first appearance in the competition.
“This is the first time we’ve been nominated, so it’s great to be in the top 10 already,” Gilbert said. “We’ve already proven ourselves to be the best college radio station in the Triangle, so this would just make us the best in the country, at least according to MTVu.”
According to Gilbert, the recognition outside of the area is beneficial for WKNC.
“Although it feels great whenever we are recognized by local organizations, it’s good to get recognized outside of the Triangle,” Gilbert said. “It validates the very hard work the students are doing.”
Molly Wright, senior in mathematics education and DJ Hot Tamale on WKNC, said she is excited WKNC has done so well.
“It’s really exciting that we’ve made it to the top ten and that we have enough support to make it this far,” Wright said. “I know we’re proud of what we do, but it’s really rewarding to know others support us. People who work here work really hard, so this support makes all of this work worth their time.”
Andrea Quach, freshman in psychology and DJ Andy Q, said she is glad to be a part of WKNC, an integral part of the University.
“It feels pretty great knowing that I’m a part of a radio station that people feel so strongly about,” Quach said. “It makes me very proud because WKNC is such a huge part of N.C. State’s campus identity.”
According to Wright, voting WKNC for the Woodie Awards is yet another way to show support for the University.
“WKNC is a student-run radio station, so voting for it is like supporting your fellow students,” Wright said. ”We’re coming together as a college to promote the University on a national level, and it’s really awesome. It’s exciting to know that we have a chance in this competition.”
Thomas Anderson, senior in political science and general manager of WKNC, said although he has not done a lot to advertise student participation in voting WKNC for the Woodies, he appreciates the student support.
“I really haven’t done much to promote it, so I feel really grateful that other people like us enough to create a big voting campaign,” Anderson said. ”I honestly wouldn’t lose sleep if we didn’t win because this competition is really about the volume of votes. You can really just sit at a computer and ‘click, click, click’ all day, and we don’t have people doing that. So if we do win, that’d be awesome. We’d win because we’d have the most supporters instead of having a few supporters each voting a million times.”
Voting for the Woodies ends March 1, and the winner will be announced March 16.
Anderson said regardless of the results, he thinks WKNC is the best.
“It’s definitely an honor to make it this far,” Anderson said, “But no matter what, I’m going to think that we’re the best college radio station in the country.”
