Students and staff in the East Valley Institute of Technology's Radio/Audio Production program have been nominated for 14 awards in 11 different categories at the 2022-2023 John Drury National High School Radio Awards. The nominations are for the students' work with 88.7FM The Pulse, EVIT's student-run radio station that is the centerpiece of the Radio/Audio Production program.
The Pulse Radio students and staff now have to wait until the winners are unveiled during a special awards ceremony on Nov. 4.
This is the fifth year EVIT students have competed in the John Drury High School Radio Awards, a national competition presented by North Central College in Naperville, Ill., and WONC-FM. In the previous four competitions, EVIT’s Radio/Audio Production program has won 11 awards, including four in 2020-2021 when 88.7 FM The Pulse was named Best High School Radio Station in the nation.
EVIT 2023 graduate Aiden Mohr was nominated three times, for Best Newscast, Best Sportscast and Broadcaster of the Year. To be eligible for the Broadcaster of the Year award, students had to submit an entry in each of the news, sports and DJ/specialty music show categories.
Meanwhile, 2023 graduate Rebecca Freeman was nominated in the Best Public Affairs Show category for her “Public Pulse” show that spotlighted the local non-profit group “Amplify Voices.” Freeman is also a finalist for Broadcaster of the Year. So are 2023 grads Alex Carlson and Bianca Grodecki. Grodecki is also a finalist for Best Featured News Story (about a key resignation at Google over AI).
Gus Martinez, also a 2023 alum, was named as a finalist in the Best Promo category for his EVIT Expo promo.
Three current EVIT students were also nominated, with the team of Adam Beadle and Jason Richey named finalists in the Best Sports Talk category, while Nick Shultz’s production about Veterans/PTSD is up for Best PSA.
The Pulse was nominated in the Best Use of Social Media category for its “Fourth Annual Senior Salute” on Instagram. The station’s website, 887thepulse.com, is a finalist for Best Website.
In addition, Radio/Audio Production instructor Dave Juday was nominated for Best Radio Station Advisor.
"Radio/Audio Production is one of 50 career training programs offered for high school students and adults at two central EVIT campuses in Mesa and Apache Junction High School," said CeCe Todd, public information officer for EVIT.
This year, EVIT had a record enrollment of approximately 6,000 students. For more information, visit evit.com.
