KMIH students win national broadcasting awards

Mercer Islanders garner 16 awards in New York City.

March 2, 2023 11:30 am
KMIH 88.9 The Bridge students and staff at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Golden Microphone Awards in New York City on Feb. 25. Front row (from left): Theodore Freeman, Ellie Sadlier, Annabelle Hegarty, Sophia Azzano and Kate Lennington. Second row (from left): Joe Bryant, Natalie Woods, Alyssa Pangallo, Grace Go, Andrew Howison, Mathew Pangallo, Sophie Prock, Chloe Yang, Sadie Jensen, Ben Kreiger and William Acker. Courtesy photo
KMIH 88.9 The Bridge students and staff at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Golden Microphone Awards in New York City on Feb. 25. Front row (from left): Theodore Freeman, Ellie Sadlier, Annabelle Hegarty, Sophia Azzano and Kate Lennington. Second row (from left): Joe Bryant, Natalie Woods, Alyssa Pangallo, Grace Go, Andrew Howison, Mathew Pangallo, Sophie Prock, Chloe Yang, Sadie Jensen, Ben Kreiger and William Acker. Courtesy photo

Special to the Reporter

KMIH 88.9 The Bridge earned 16 national awards for excellence in broadcasting from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS).

The annual Golden Microphone Awards were held during a live ceremony on Feb. 25 in New York City with Mercer Island High School (MIHS) students and staff from KMIH in attendance. Honors included several awards for the station’s wide-ranging news coverage, as well as best celebrity interview, use of video in radio, sports coverage and best specialty music show. Students were also recognized for their leadership and management roles in areas such as business, news, sports and promotions.

KMIH adviser and general manager Joe Bryant says it was a welcome change to return to New York after three years of attending the conference and awards virtually.

“We had fun touring the city and brought home 16 awards as well as many excellent new ideas. I’m so proud of all the students who entered content for awards consideration and love seeing them being recognized nationally,” he said. “I also am thrilled to see so many awards for our community news and events. These awards are a testament to not only the talent of our young broadcasters, but also the excellent job of our community outreach coordinator and news industry veteran, Natalie Woods, who mentors the students and creates partnerships in the community.”

MIHS senior Miles Avilez took home the most awards, with four Golden Microphones for spot news, political news, community outreach and being named best news director.

Senior Sophia Azzano and junior Ellie Sadlier each collected two awards. Azzano won for best specialty music show and best sports director, and Sadlier triumphed with her music interview with recording artist Mary Scholz and on-air programming.

Other Golden Microphone Award winners include Gil MacDonald, Dylan Shobe, Jenna Martin, Theodore Freeman, Andrew Howison, Sophie Prock, Molly Rojas, Sidh Shroff, Grace Go and Johnathan Aggar.

The highly competitive IBS Awards recognizes excellence in college and high school broadcasting nationwide.