WASHINGTON, PA — WNJR, Washington & Jefferson College's student radio station, has won five Pittsburgh AIR Awards, which recognizes achievement in radio and raises money for the March of Dimes.

WNJR was recognized in the following categories:

• Best College Radio On-Air Personality: Eric Holmberg for Hangin' with Holmes.
• Best College Radio Sports Reporting or Play-by-Play Announcer: Jon Pennline for 2008 W&J Football vs. Grove City College.
• Best College Radio Station Promo: Dave Singer for DaveFM show promo.
• Best College Radio Editorial for a Distracted Driving Campaign, a series of public service announcements that warn listeners about the dangers of distracted driving, especially cell phone use. Contributors included Stephanie Smith, Justin Lemmo, Drew Guthrie, Peter Dehoff, Bayard Solomon, Brian Foye, Nate Terry, and Leigha Scheller.
• Best College Radio Station Web site

Other W&J finalists included Kim Urcho for on-air personality and Mike Rush for sports announcer.

WNJR is a co-curricular program of the Department of Theatre and Communication, and is licensed by the FCC as an educational broadcast station. Twelve students work part-time for the station, as well as approximately forty student and six faculty/staff volunteers who do weekly shows. Associate Professor of Communication Anthony Fleury is the faculty advisor for the station.

"The WNJR student staff and volunteers are dedicated and talented," said Fleury. "I am fortunate to be associated with these remarkable people. This recognition for their efforts is well deserved."

Urcho, an English major with minors in communication and gender and women's studies, is host of the local issues program, WashPa Radio, and a sponsorship manager for WNJR.

"For me, WNJR isn't just another activity to add to my resume. It is the one place on campus where you can meet, learn, and interact with people from different walks of life, with different interests, tastes, and experiences. I value that."

Singer, a philosophy major and communication minor, is involved with several programs, including Citation Please (a WNJR collaboration with the W&J Philosophy Club), and works as a production manager for the station.

"I love working with the staff and volunteers," said Singer. "They care about what they do, and these awards are proof of it. WNJR is a demonstration of the utility of a liberal arts education."

WNJR (91.7 FM), award-winning alternative radio for Washington county, is a Pacifica Network affiliate station, reports to the College Music Journal, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.