| OCR Text |
Show by Nicola Prtichett / HEX Writer On any given morning, the voices of Pleasant Grove high school students and their prime music picks can be heard whizzing across the valley by tuning into 88.1 FM. KPGR, the high school's student-run radio station, has been broadcasting since 1976. Every school year, a new batch of students are chosen to man the station, choosing songs, covering sporting events, and developing their own shows. This years KPGR's management consists of Annysela Medrano (President), Nate Bramhall (who oversee the station's live music, Pig Pen), Kaden Crutchfield (audio director), and Jacob Corry (vice-president). Though most of the students first became involved with the radio station through their love of music, they all agree that their experience with the radio station will benefit them in other ways, from improved resumes to sToryfteifirrstills. "Not a lot of high schools have radio stations or have had the opportunity to broadcast. It looks pretty good on any transcript," Crutchfield explains. Russ Mayo, the long-time advisor of KPGR, hopes that his student's expel ience with the radio station will influence them in all aspects of their lives, "I want [the s tudents] to be able to go out in public and have a sense of confidence and social and sp aking skills. Maybe one out of a hundred will go on to be a radio host, but all of them n eed the social skills that will help them in their careers in the future... for me it's a dre g m job, I get to come and hang out with students and watch them be creative and be succ ssful." Unfortunately, in a world of Spotify, Pandora and iTunes, radio is suffering. "There have been songs written about video killing the radio star, all of these things were supposed to kill radio, and they never have. But the internet is doing it." But the students of KPGR haven't lost hope yet. "You can pick and choose exactly what you want to listen to on your phone, so that's what we're trying to make [KPGR], what you want," Medrano explains. Corry sites musical discovery as a benefit of radio, "I can see how radio is dying because it's so easy to plug an iPod into your car stereo system. But there are die-hard fans that will still listen to the radio. KPGR is a great way to hear music that you've never heard before, pretty underground music." That exploration isn't the only thing the DJ's love about radio, "I like the fact that every song is directed at the public, but it's also directed at the single listener, it's a very deliberate thing," Bramhall says. Crutchfield also explained a unique human element of radio, "I like having the opportunity to hear a voice on the radio, even if it's just dumb things like the weather or traffic, at least you know somebody's there, working towards your pleasure." When asked what they hope listeners gain from KPGR, the students each had their own answers. Cony began, "we hope they support local bands and hear new music, that's our main pushing point this year." Crutchfield added, "We have the opportunity to be the voice of Pleasant Grove, being able to tell people when dances, concerts, anything is happening. Without even knowing the listener you can build a relationship with them." Bramhall went on to explain, "It's a unifying thing, we'll all be listening to a football game or a local band together." "And that's our goal, to bring people together," Medrano finished. HEX/V |
