WJCU 88.7 FM continues to set the standard for excellence in student broadcasting, earning top honors at the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts—one of the most competitive student media contests in the country. This marks the fourth time since 2022 that WJCU has been recognized by the BEA, and for the first time in station history, it has secured a first-place win.
Nikolena Samac ’27, Bobby Gerome ’27, and Aidan Houck ’25 earned the top prize in the Best Social Media category for their work on WJCU’s sports Instagram page (@wjcusports). This victory follows another major achievement for Samac, who recently received the People’s Choice Content Creator Award from the International Student Broadcasting Championship (ISBC) for her contributions to WJCU Sports’ digital presence.
WJCU also saw success in the Graduate Audio Competition, where Zachary Sinutko ’24, ’25G, Emily Davala ’24, ’26G, and Jayden Beddingfield ’25, took home second place for 808 and Mixtapes, their hip hop radio show which airs on Tuesday nights from 10 p.m. to midnight.
“These awards are a testament to the creativity, dedication, and talent of our students,” said Jasen Sokol, Director of WJCU 88.7 FM. “Winning first place at the BEA Festival of Media Arts is a historic achievement for WJCU, and I couldn't be prouder of the team for their outstanding work in sports media and audio production.”
WJCU’s Director Honored in Faculty Audio Competition
In addition to WJCU’s student achievements, Jasen Sokol, Director of WJCU 88.7 FM, was honored in the Faculty Audio Competition for Long Form Audio Production at the BEA, earning an Award of Excellence for his work on the World College Radio Day Global Simulcast.
The program features an exclusive interview with Pete Williams, former NBC News Justice Correspondent and JCU Journalist-in-Residence, as he discusses the evolving landscape of journalism and media and provides advice for students interested in pursuing careers in the field.
You can listen to the full interview here, with Sokol’s conversation with Williams beginning at the 7:24 mark.
Looking Ahead: WJCU at the BEA Convention
Award winners and finalists will be honored at the BEA Festival of Media Arts Convention, held April 5-8 in Las Vegas in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show. The WJCU team will attend the conference to receive their awards, connect with industry leaders, participate in hands-on workshops, and further develop their skills in media and entertainment.
These latest accolades add to WJCU’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in student broadcasting. Since 2022, the station has received 80 national and international award nominations, securing 16 wins, including the prestigious 2024 International Student Broadcasting Championship Station of the Year award.
For a full list of WJCU’s awards and honors, visit WJCU.org/Awards.