Student radio stations nominated for 10 national awards

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Rider University’s 107.7 The Bronc WRRC-FM and its online counterpart 107.7 The Bronc Retro WRRC2 have been nominated for 10 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Media Awards, the highest total number of nominations in the station’s history.

Established in 1940, the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) stands as the premier non-profit broadcast organization in the nation, representing over 1,000 education-affiliated radio stations and webcasters. The awards acknowledge exceptional programming from college and university radio stations across the United States.

Nominations include:

107.7 The Bronc WRRC-FM

•     Best College Radio Station (under 10,000 students): 107.7 The Bronc WRRC-FM
•     Best Morning Show: Wake-Up Rider on 107.7 The Bronc, hosted and produced by juniors Nick Witkowski and Jack Jock, as well as sophomores Owen McCarron and Alli Burton
•     Best On-Air Personality: Junior Jack Jock for Bronc Rock 
•     Best Social Media Campaign: Sophomore Emily O'Connor for Marconi Awards Here We Come
•     Best Promo Series: Psychedelic Summer, created by junior Claire Palmer
•     Best Show Open: Senior Heather Batezel for Grow Up Blondie
•     Best Production Director: Junior Nick Witkowski
•     Best Faculty Advisor: John Mozes

107.7 The Bronc Retro WRRC2

• Best Online/Streaming Radio Station (Under 10,000 students)
• Best Underwriting Announcement: Junior David Kessler and sophomore Owen McCarron


At the 2023 IBS Awards, 107.7 The Bronc was named the Best College/University Radio Station (under 10,000 students), while senior film and television major Jake Serrano won the award for Best Sports Update for The Overtime, a daily two-minute sports report on 107.7 The Bronc Retro. Other notable achievements for 107.7 The Bronc include nominations for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for College Radio Station of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The station also won three National Electronic Media Association Awards in 2021 and is currently ranked No. 7 for “Best College Radio Station” by The Princeton Review.

"This group of students never ceases to amaze me,” says John Mozes, general manager. “Their passion for the medium, energy on the air, performance at our signature campus events and commitment to their craft, inspires me."

Witkowski, co-production director and assistant student general manager for 107.7 The Bronc, has been working in radio since his freshman year of high school. "The amount I have learned here at 107.7 The Bronc is indescribable," he says. “I could write a book on how valuable of an experience it has been, both personally and professionally." 

Palmer, who joined the radio’s executive staff this year, shares the sentiment emphasizing, "In developing my role as co-production director, I have learned valuable skills I will no doubt carry with me for the rest of my life."

The winners will be announced on March 2 during the 2024 Intercollegiate Broadcasting Conference at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. The annual conference provides attendees an opportunity to learn about and exchange ideas in the field of broadcasting through featured guest speakers and informational sessions. This year, 107.7 The Bronc and its accomplished team of students are set to host three educational sessions, focusing on essential topics such as station identity, building a strong social media presence and the key elements for executing a successful daily morning show.

In addition to their stellar radio programming, the stations produce some of Rider’s most popular events such as Scream Screen, a drive-in movie and trunk-or-treat experience, and the Eggscellent Egg Hunt, a classic egg hunt with a $1,000 grand prize. Another student favorite is Cruisin’ From Commencement, the stations’ yearly competition where members of the graduating class have the opportunity to win a new car.

Listen to 107.7 The Bronc live on the airwaves or tune in to both stations online, via Apple, Google Play and Audacy apps, and with Amazon Alexa.