Listen LiveSchool adds cool learning tool
Jazz station WGMC moves into Olympia High media center
Victoria E. Freile, Staff writer
(June 15, 2005) — GREECE — Until recently, many Olympia High School students didn’t know the Greece Central School District housed a radio station.In fact, many still don’t know much about it.
Last month, a radio and television studio opened in the school’s new library and media center. At the same time, the staff of the predominantly jazz station WGMC-FM (90.1), which goes by Jazz 90.1, moved to the new facility.
The library/media center was part of the district’s $119.5 million capital improvement project approved by Greece voters in June 2000. The station was previously housed in a converted kitchen in Apollo Middle School.
Now, district officials plan to offer Olympia students an opportunity to learn in the studio this fall. Radio broadcast and production lessons will be incorporated into courses at Olympia, said Keith Imon, assistant superintendent of communication and technology. In future years, Imon said district officials hope to launch broadcast courses for Greece students.
Olympia freshman Laura Benedict, who turns 15 today, said she’d like the chance to try something different in class.
“I’m good with technology,” she said. “I’d like to see if it’s what I’d want to do.”The district acquired the radio station license in the 1970, and has housed the station ever since, said Station Manager Rob Linton. Although it started as a student-run station, its role has changed over the years, he said.
WGMC operates independently from the district with an annual budget of approximately $150,000. About 90 percent of the budget is funded by regular donations from its 1,400 members. Local businesses pick up the rest of the tab, Linton said.The station — one of a handful of such jazz stations in the nation — employs four workers and relies on more than 20 volunteers to operate, he said.
Ryan Roggow, 17, of Greece interned at the station over the winter and said he learned about the intricacies of radio broadcasting and interacting with people in the professional world. He decided to stay on as a volunteer and said he hopes to pursue a career in radio sales and marketing. Ryan said he’d love to see other students blossom as he did.
Linton, 25, also found his calling after taking a broadcasting course in high school. He said he hopes that offering hands-on instruction will help other teens find an outlet to do what they love.
“There’s such a big difference between learning from a textbook and having the chance to try something out in the studio,” Linton said.
“So many students want to learn and this will give them such an edge in college.”
