WBDG Celebrates 41 Years Of Service(posted May 10) The students of WBDG 90.9 FM radio station celebrated its 41 years of service to community and students with a 41-hour marathon during the weekend of May 4-6. Jon Easter, station manager and broadcasting radio teacher, selected seven of his students to participate and run the marathon. It was only natural for Easter to use the students that were heavily involved with the marathon's organizational aspects. "These seven students did the work," he said. WBDG radio provides the hands on experience to help students decide if they want to enter the broadcasting industry. Easter pointed to the wall of professional broadcasters that were former WBDG students; Scott Hoke of WRTV 6, Kristi Lee of WFBQ-95, Kevin Gregory of WRTV 6, Dave Calabro and Kevin Calabro. Easter is also a former Ben Davis student. While Ben Davis Senior Kyle Andrei likes being on the air, he has discovered other talents in the radio industry through organizing the marathon. Andrei believes his forte is seeking underwriters to raise money. He would like to take this fundraising experience to a grander scale someday by entering into a managerial and advertising position after graduating from college. Easter also noted that Samantha Warrum had exceptional skills with gathering fundraising dollars. Andrei and Jordon Monschein performed like seasoned disc jockeys by discussing the upcoming summer concerts with Bob Dylan, Stray Cats, and Pretenders coming to town. Monschein, also a Speedway student, came to Ben Davis to learn about the audio technology. "I have face for radio," he quipped, but he plans to pursue his future collegiate academic courses in audio engineering technology. Monschein is able to help keep the station going 24 hours a day by pre-programming some of his radio shows. It is important for the schools to keep the on the air for 24 hours a day to prevent having to share the channel with others seeking air time. The FCC recently ruled in favor WBDG in not having to share air time with Martin Hensley of Hoosier Public Radio. (See related story on page W-8.) Every hour of music commemorated a year of service that started in 1966. By 2:40 p.m. on May 4, songs from 1973 filled the airwaves. Easter explained that a computer categorized the music from year to year. Easter currently teaches 50 kids throughout the day. The students learn the radio history in a mass media communications class before enrolling in the elective courses their Junior and Senior year to gain experience in the 400-watt station. He noted that Area 31 students can enroll in the class like Monschein. Area 31 Career Center helps students in other school districts to define a career goal through hands on experience. Part of the 41 hours of coverage included the highlight of 12th Annual Arts Alive Festival that convened at the high school on May 5. Art teacher Larry Hurt created program. He said it is similar to the Indianapolis Museum of Arts' Penrod Festival so that students from Kindergarten through 12th grade could show case their artistic talents in one place at one time. Hurt and his committee go all out with extravagant details, including potted palm trees flanking the displays, so the approximately 4,000 visitors coming through the doors can be entertained with dance, music, theatrics and visual arts. Family Consumer Science Teacher Therese Graves organized the concessions. The concession provides fundraising opportunities for outside non-profit groups by having booths in the area. She said the mudslingers are a top attraction for visitors to watch clay potters. The mudslingers give the visitors a chance to make their own pottery creations from blocks of clay. |
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