88.9FM/94.5FM on Mercer Island provides local news, sports updates and anything else pertaining to the Island. The station, run by students at Mercer Island High School, was recently honored at the Washington State High School Radio Conference and Awards two weeks ago at Nathan Hale High School.
KMIH winners from Mercer Island included: sophomore Michael Green, who earned first place for commentary and editorial, and sophomore Alana Osborne, who won second place for underwriting. The station won a second-place award for team newscast, featuring Osborne, sophomore Michael Amico and freshman Lottie Macaulay. The PSA series third-place award went to freshmen Monica Airut-Murphy, Lena Captain, Justin Choung and Ian Greer.
Osborne, who started her freshman year, said she loves being able to share her enthusiasm for radio with others and was honored to earn second place in the state.
“Winning second was unbelievable,” she said. She added that her favorite part of the day was meeting John Curley, the former host of King 5’s “Evening Magazine,” who was one of the featured speakers at the event.
“He’s a fun guy, and it was great to really be able to relate to him,” she said.
Osborne DJs a live show on Monday and Tuesday afternoons at the station from 1:30 to 3 p.m., where she said it’s a little bit of everything, including music, entertainment news and whatever else comes up. She also helps others create their shows and enjoys seeing others find a passion for radio like she has.
“I like helping guide others. It’s really cool and exciting,” she said.
The all-day conference featured several speakers, all with a wide range of radio experience. Pat Chasman, the longtime writer for radio, television and print who spent 15 seasons doing the “Almost Live” sketch comedy for King 5, spoke about his experience.