By: Lathan Gil
107.7 The Bronc is now a five time in six year nominee of the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Radio Award for College Radio Station of the Year!
Although we were nominated four times in the past, this was the first time going to the ceremony for most of our student executive staff at The Bronc. Copy Director, Grace Juarez ‘27 shared the feeling she got when she found out we were going to the Marconi Radio Awards. “I didn’t know what to expect. It’s new to me. I don’t know what’s there! I really wanna look good! Seeing our school and the people we are going against, the anticipation is really what’s getting me.”
I asked one of our Music Directors, Bella Soto ‘27, if she felt nervous about going, and she full-on rejected the idea of feeling nervous in the first place! “I was NOT nervous, I am actually really excited! I haven’t been to New York in a while! I am so excited to experience this. It’s a new experience and a big deal!
Stress on Stress on Stress!
After the nomination came out, it was quite literally the only thing on our staff’s mind besides Scream Screen. We were thinking about pictures, outfits, branding, we wanted to keep up the high quality content while having the pressure of the award on us.
But we knew we would make it through and persevere because that’s just what we do. We achieved milestones like 107.7 The Bronc’s first-ever Radiothon, where we raised $55,000 in 74 hours. We just had the most attended event in Rider history with 2400 people at Scream Screen X. We broke and are continuing to break records, so we knew with whatever stress came, we would push through. Even the news director, Aidan Magee had a shooting comment on our work ethic “We know how much everyone works at the station. And we work hard! So if we win, we are winning with a BANG because we have done so much.”
One of The Bronc’s three Production Directors, Dan Loges ‘28 says he felt some pressure after finding out we were nominated. “Yeah, we work so hard, putting time into what we do. We have to craft it, and now there are a bunch of eyes on us, we want to make sure things stay up to par and up to standard. But obviously we got nominated because of our standard and work ethic, so we just made sure to stay there.”
On The Way to NYC!
The bus ride to the award ceremony was a very memorable moment! We sang karaoke, played games, and bonded as an executive staff. For a look at that you can follow us on Tiktok and Instagram to view those posts, reels and stories..
Arriving there was a grand entrance in itself. Leaving the bus to walk in the Edison Ballroom in Time Square, Aidan Magee was simply starstruck! “It was amazing. I knew how big of a deal it was, but seeing it all in person felt so fancy, even more than what I was anticipating.”
It was VERY fancy. They served Filet Mignon, salmon, and more! For Dan Loges, the food added to the moment, “Eating a Filet Mignon that I didn’t have to pay for…I knew it was going to be a great time.”
Leaving The Awards
For some of our seniors, it was their first and/or last time attending the Marconi’s. “I am graduating. I’m happy we got to bond and be with each other. In meetings and in the station we mostly only discuss work stuff, so just having fun, forming further bonds really made it bittersweet.” is how Aidan Magee described his NAB Marconi Award night.
Leaving the show was a bittersweet experience. We got to be around some of our peers and even had the opportunity to learn a few things. I asked Dan on the bus ride back if he felt like we should go harder now, after the awards. “I think there is always a reason to push harder and push yourself farther. We want to be the best. So yes, seeing we were recognized five times in the past six years, what we do works. So we will keep on going.”
Thank You!
When interviewing Grace, Bella, Aidan, and Dan, I asked them who they would like to thank. They all said their parents, friends, and partners that helped them start in radio. However, I just want to give thanks to everyone on the executive staff for making the station what it is and has become.
Thank you to Alli Burton, Kadie DiGiuseppe, Ellis Foreman, Jaden Foreman, Lathan “Laytin” Gil (myself), Grace Juarez, Juliet Inforzato, Dan Loges, Aidan Magee, Owen McCarron, Emily O’Conner, Lindsay Scarola, Richard “RJ” Seib, Bella Soto, Rosalyn Tiangco, Guy Varela, Cassie Vaz, and of course the man who pushes us to always be better, our general manager, John Mozes!
We could not be where we are without any of you, keep going and getting bigger.