The sign says it all.

Posted in a hallway at Mercer Island High School (MIHS) near the KMIH 88.9 The Bridge broadcasting room, the handwritten message exclaimed that the student-centric station had earned the No. 1 spot in the nation.

KMIH notched that lofty position at the annual John Drury High School Radio Awards ceremony hosted by WONC-FM on Nov. 2 at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. The locals were among 20 national high school radio stations, students and advisers honored in various categories in the prestigious competition.

It is KMIH’s first time snagging the uppermost award.

Individually, the ultra-successful KMIH students have garnered awards — past and present — in the Drury competition, plus accolades from NPR, The New York Times and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Conference.

“I am a very proud teacher and not only of my current students but also all the past Islanders that have broadcast on KMIH. I’m in my 10th year of teaching at MIHS and we would not be the nation’s best station without all the great work that was done by 88.9 The Bridge alums. I also appreciate the tremendous support we receive from the district, administration and our booster club. This is an award that the entire Mercer Island community can be proud of and share in,” said Joe Bryant, KMIH general manager.

KMIH hauled in copious awards at the recent Drury competition, including top website, top student podcaster Chloe Yang for her series “Emerald City Echoes,” runners up Sophia Loiselle and Kate Lenington for best promo, second-placer Losielle for best public affairs show, the second-place KMIH social media team for the 88.9 The Bridge Instagram, and myriad third-placers Maggie Blohm for best sports update, Yang and Nicole Henderson for best news update and Liam Murawski, Milo Berkley and Brendan McGuire for best sports talk show.

Yang is thrilled to reside in the KMIH realm and take part in the first-place honor alongside her fellow Islanders and Bryant and Natalie Woods, the station’s community outreach coordinator.

“Since joining the program in freshman year, radio has deeply contributed to and developed who I am today. I really appreciate the many resources and opportunities that Joe and Natalie expose their students to, both of them also giving us the permission to find our voice and tune into our passion. Winning the best radio station in the country is a testimony of the amount of support our teachers provide students, and how supportive the school district is of KMIH,” she said.

Added MIHS College and Career Readiness Coordinator Jennifer McLellan: “We are so lucky to have this resource in our district and to have Joe and Natalie Woods sharing their deep professional skills, energy and seemingly boundless buckets of patience supporting our students as they learn how to be effective communicators.”

Other KMIH student broadcasters Anna Carson said the amazing top award spotlights the students’ and staff’s hard work; Henderson said she’s gained valuable networking and interview skills during her three years at the station; and Benjamin Engelman noted that the interconnected radio community is driven by its unifying goal to make quality content.

“KMIH is one of the best communities at MIHS. Our station is a place where every student can find their voice and cultivate their creativity. Winning this award shows how all the early mornings, community events, hard work, and more really matter to people,” added Lenington.

On Mercer Island, residents can listen to KMIH at 88.9 FM, stream online at kmih.org or download the KMIH app.