By: Lathan “Laytin” Gil
If you don’t know by now, 107.7 The Bronc is nominated for eight Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems Media Awards. Some of those nominations are: Best College Radio Station and Best Station Giveaway, just to name a few. 34 members of our team, from the executive staff and the social media team, to the news and sports teams, a very diverse group of staff will be attending awards and will be going to NYC this Saturday, February 21 to represent The Bronc.
This is a WHOLE NEW Experience for Some!
One of those students is Taveon Mcrae ‘29! He is one of the newest members of the social media team, and will be in New York to learn and do social media for our 2025 IBS award winner and 2026 IBS award nominee Wake Up Rider. As a freshman, this is the first time Taveon first time he is going to be exposed to industry professionals and network with members of college media, so even hearing that 107.7 The Bronc was nominated, literally had him doing backflips. “ I was so happy. My work was nominated, as the Bagel Run & Jewelry Spree got nominated for Best Giveaway! I want to go to the social media panels so I can learn how to grow my work, and to get my work more out there!”
Even as a first year student, Taveon can see how much work we put in at The Bronc, saying that is what separates us from others. “We put in a lot of effort. Not even just us on social media, but the people who are in the videos. I feel like because of our hard work and dedication, that I feel we definitely deserved to be acknowledged.”
Some Students are Returning for a Second, Third and Even Fourth Time!
Grace Juarez ‘27 went to the IBS Media Awards in 2025, and is returning for the second year in a row. She has some great memories from the first go around. “I didn’t know anybody until the first time I went, because I wasn’t a part of the exec staff yet. So I personally think the best part of IBS is getting closer to everybody and bonding. We build stronger connections.”
For some, an award ceremony, like the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems Media Awards, may seem like one of the most stressful things to attend, with all the anxiety and stress running through your mind. But for Grace, the anticipation is what makes it fun, “The thought of, and going in thinking we will win is what makes it fun. What would even make it more fun would be if we win more!”
Grace also wanted to acknowledge some of the new staff members and content we are nominated for, like Jake Goebel ‘28, who is nominated in a Graphic Design category for Best Station Poster and is the first student in 107.7 The Bronc history to be nominated in that category! “The category Jake [Goebel] is nominated for that’s a new one, and I think that will open up more opportunities for graphic designers who want to join The Bronc!”
What’s a Typical Day Like at IBS?
One easy word to describe the day is EXHAUSTING! As Grace puts it, “We wake up early, get there pretty early, at least there is always something to do and somewhere to go in that area. It is very entertaining though. We even have like a little intermission to do our own thing. That’s good for a radio [conference and] award show I think! The awards get announced at around 5 or 6 p.m., then John [Mozes] takes us out to dinner afterwards. It may be exhausting but it is a great bonding moment!”
Leadership’s POV of IBS
This will be Assistant General Manager Kadie Digiueseppe’s ‘27 third IBS Media Awards she has been to. And to put it frankly, she has high expectations. “I certainly expect us to win at least something. I think that especially last year was a big turn around for us. We did a lot of things we have never done before, like The Radiothon, and in October we had the most attended event in Rider University history. I think we keep upping our game. So I think with the two awards we won last year, we are only able to go up. We aren’t going back.”
Stepping Up Our Game?
Nominations can definitely make you feel pressure to do better than before, but Kadie seems content in what we do, and feels like we will only go up. “We must be doing something right! I think that shows that after being nominated 11 times [last year], and adding The Radiothon, the best Eggcellent Egghunt, and the best Scream Screen, that only serves as fuel to keep going and to keep on fire. And with the new cameras and [other][ new things, it serves as motivation to keep going. I think everyone wants to do better after these nominations came out, nobody really needed a push.”
We Are Eternally Grateful!
The station experience at the IBS Conference and Media Awards has certainly evolved since Kadie’s first year there. In Her first year, The Bronc didn’t win anything. But, when you are nominated for something like this you have to take a step back and take everything in, without even thinking about if you will win or not. “It is an honor. You get to go to the conference and meet people. You will meet stations from the West Coast, Central Time [Zone], and more. Winning for us isn’t a big deal. No matter how many wins or nominations we get, we are still one of the best college radio stations in the country. We could go there and not win anything and I will be happy.”
Follow us around New York City all day this Saturday, February 21. Make sure to watch our social media accounts to see if we bring home the gold at the 2026 Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems Media Awards.
IG: @1077thebronc
Tiktok: @1077thebroncwrrc
Facebook: @1077TheBronc