The KU Radio station (KUR) is kicking off the semester with one foot headed toward the red carpet.  Every year, KU radio members travel to NYC for the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Convention (IBS), but this year, KUR may be stealing the show.

Last year, the radio station won the Gold Microphone Award for Excellent Broadcasting. This year, IBS recently announced that KUR is up for multiple award nominations.

“In an age where radio is sometimes deemed a dying medium, KUR has proven radio is alive and well, serving the community and University,” Station Manager Mike Regensburger said, “Being nominated for these awards proves KUR is doing our part to serve the community in an underserved area with the nearest stations being from Allentown and Reading.”

KUR is running against KSAK (Mount San Antonio College Radio), WSWI (University of Southern Indiana Radio), WUTM (University of Tennessee at Martin Radio) and WCVF (State University of New York at Fredonia Radio) for Best Newscast.

Also nominated for the award of Best News Interview, KUR is competing against WRKC (Kings College Radio), WUTM (University of Tennessee at Martin Radio), KTRM (Truman State University) and WCVF (State University of New York at Fredonia Radio).

Fitting into the category of colleges with an enrollment of more than ten thousand students, KUR is going up against William Patterson University for the Best College Radio Station.  Rounding out the award nominations for 2013 is the nomination for the Abraham and Borst award for Best College Radio Station in the United States.

Aside from the nominations, IBS provides college students involved with their radio stations a way to exchange ideas and learn the ways of the trade. At the convention, students will attend multiple conferences and learning workshops to strengthen their skills and knowledge of the world of radio.

Regensburger commented on the most rewarding part of being in charge of the KU radio station: “Seeing my students eventually move on to successful careers in broadcasting. Not all of them go on to a broadcasting career, but some do. I have past students at Q-102 in Philadelphia, Y-102 in Reading and WPPA in Pottsville. All of those students have told me they wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for what they learned at KUR.”

The radio station here at KU is doing better than ever.  Student specialty shows have started up for the semester as of Monday, Feb. 4. KUR provides the latest breaking news, sports information, weather and entertainment music programs for the KU area on channel 24 or 28 and through Service Electric channel 266 in Berks County and Lehigh Valley.  No matter what time you tune in, KUR is on 24/7 providing a show for its listeners.  KUR travels to NYC for the IBS Convention Mar. 1 through Mar. 3 to see if they beat the competition.

By Haley Bianco