Press Releases
WXAV Continues to Shine, Wins Three IBA-U Silver Domes
SXU senior Kate Mata among students honored at Oct. 3 awards ceremony in Springfield
CHICAGO (Oct. 7, 2003) – WXAV 88.3 FM, Saint Xavier University’s radio station, took three first place awards out of five categories at the Illinois Broadcast Association student Silver Dome Awards on Friday, Oct. 3.
The station garnered top honors for Best Radio Newscast, Best News Story and Best Radio Aircheck, besting colleges and universities across the state. WXAV also took a second place award for Best Radio Spot.
The awards mark a great coup for WXAV, which prides itself on quality news broadcasts and unique music programming. In June, the station’s “God Matters” program – hosted by Sister Sue Sanders – won a second-place Silver Dome award in the category of Local Public Affairs Reporting, beating Chicago’s WGN Radio, which finished third in the category.
“This is great for WXAV and this is great for SXU,” said Robert Quicke, director of student media, of the awards. “And it sends a clear message to all Illinois students interested in career broadcasting that if they come to SXU, it could happen.”
Saint Xavier senior Kate Mata, whose was included in all three first-place honors, said by showing its strength over peer radio stations, WXAV had garnered even greater interest among the student body.
“I’m so happy about these awards,” Mata said. “Although beating WGN in June was a big one, these awards were a chance for students to win – and now they have.”
Mata, of Tinley Park, got involved with the station out of a love of music. Now, she works as WXAV’s program director, assisting other students with their own radio shows.
Though she won first place for her aircheck – or on-air personality – Mata is unsure if a career at a commercial station is her dream job.
“If there was a place for me in the future to work in college radio, I definitely would,” she said.
WXAV’s first-place news story – produced by Mata -- highlighted the station’s launch as a 24-hour radio station. First-place newscast honors were shared by producer Mata and broadcasters John Normoyle (’03) and Julianne Siegel for the daily “X Report.”
Those who want to learn more about the station may visit wxav.com, where a Webcast allows Internet surfers to listen to WXAV programming. To tune in on the radio, visit 88.3 FM.