College Broadcasters Inc. has wrapped up its annual National Student Media Convention and National Student Production Awards held this year in Philadelphia.
The organization noted it had its highest attendance since 2018 with over 497 attendees and 85 media professional speakers (including myself and Ross On Radio’s Sean Ross). CBI President and WMSC Montclair NJ advisor Annabella Poland said, “Philadelphia never disappoints as a host of the National Student Media Convention. The number of media pros speaking at the conference nearly doubled since last year and our attendees loved the opportunities to share programming, marketing and production ideas with their peers. We know the creative energy we saw this week will now spread to campus media outlets all over the country.”
Poland also received the Dave Black Excellence in Advising Award in recognition of exceptional dedication and service to student electronic media operation. North Carolina State University’s Jamie Lynn Gilbert was presented the Joel Willer Award for exceptional dedication and service to student electronic media.
The 2027 convention will be held from October 27 through 23 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown.
Among the award winners:
Radio Station of the Year
1st Place: Montclair State University, WMSC 90.3 FM
2nd Place: Marshall University, WMUL-FM
3rd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WSUM 91.7 FM
4th Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio
Best Audio Interview
1st Place: University of Southern Indiana, 95.7 The Spin
Ali Saunders: Basketball Star
2nd Place: Montclair State University, WMSC 90.3 FM
Aaron de Jesus from “1776” Interview
3rd Place: University of Cincinnati, Bearcast Media
Off the Record
4th Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio
Sharon Chung Interview
Best Audio Music Production
1st Place: Michigan State University, Impact 89FM
Florence Texas Live on The Basement
2nd Place: West Texas A&M University, KWTS-FM
Live Lounge: Nelson McKinney
3rd Place: Ohio University, ACRN
Twerp – ACRN Radio Residency
4th Place: Texas State University, KTSW-FM 89.9
KTSW Studio C: Chasing Tigers
Best Station Imaging — Audio
1st Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio
WZND Imaging
2nd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WSUM 91.7 FM
WSUM Imaging
3rd Place: University of West Georgia, WOLF Radio
WOLF Radio Imaging
4th Place: Texas State University, KTSW-FM 89.9
KTSW Station Imaging
Best DJ
1st Place: Indiana State University, WZIS-FM
Seth Berquist Aircheck
2nd Place: Loyola University Maryland, WLOY Loyola Radio
DJ Bravo
3rd Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio
Brandon Saam
4th Place: Marshall University, WMUL-FM
Nolan Duncan DJ Reel
Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program
1st Place: University of Minnesota, Radio K
Real College Podcast: What Protest Sounds Like
2nd Place: University of Tennessee-Martin, WUTM-FM 90.3 The Hawk
Detras de la Cancion
3rd Place: Hillsdale College, Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM
Story Behind the Song: Stephanie Childress
4th Place: Illinois State University, WZND Fuzed Radio
Drive-Thru Normal
Best Sports Reporting — Audio
1st Place: Marshall University, WMUL-FM
Marshall Volleyball Needs One More Win
2nd Place: Encinal Junior/Senior High School, 96.1 KJTZ
Encinal Baseball Plays Tamalpais at Oracle Park
3rd Place: Mississippi State University, WMSV Radio
Transfer Portal Impact on High School Sports
4th Place: Marshall University, WMUL-FM
Marshall Swim & Dive Out, Stunt In
Best Sports Show
1st Place: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, WRST-FM
National Championship Pregame
2nd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WSUM 91.7 FM
WSUM Overtime: Court Trial
3rd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WSUM 91.7 FM
Toss the Mic Sportscast
4th Place: Rowan University, Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM
The Rowan Sports Review
Best Live Sports Broadcast
1st Place: Pittsburg State University, CAPS 13
Pittsburg State vs Fort Hays Women’s Basketball Game of the Week, February 21, 2026
2nd Place: John Carroll University, Blue Streak Media
NCAC Men’s Basketball Quarterfinals: John Carroll vs Oberlin
3rd Place: Berry College, Viking Fusion
Berry College Football vs Trinity University
4th Place: Berry College, Viking Fusion
Berry College Football vs Millsaps College
Best Social Media Presence
1st Place: University of South Carolina, WUSC
WUSC Instagram
2nd Place: The University of Akron, WZIP-FM
WZIP Instagram
3rd Place: Loyola University Maryland, WLOY Loyola Radio
WLOY Instagram
4th Place: John Carroll University, Blue Streak Media
JCU Studios Instagram
Best Student Media Website
1st Place: Montclair State University, WMSC 90.3 FM
wmscradio.com
2nd Place: Berry College, Viking Fusion
VikingFusion.com
3rd Place: Ithaca College, ICTV
ICTV.org
4th Place: University of Colorado Boulder, KVCU Radio 1190
1190.radio
The full list of winners can be seen here.
