FOUNDER OF NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL RADIO DAY

There already was a national College Radio Day. I thought we should have a focus on high school radio and have a day of our own. I bounced it off of Dr. Rob Quicke, founder of College Radio Day, and he was fine with it. So, I rounded up as many high school radio stations as I could from around the U.S. and we launched the first national High School Radio Day in May, 2012. Our mission is to put the spotlight on high school radio stations and the service they provide their communities. April 21, 2021, was our 10th Annual High School Radio Day. Our contact list has grown to 80 stations from 30 states. Details at http://highschoolradioday.com.

A couple of good things have sprouted since I founded High School Radio Day:

* I created a High School Radio Day website which includes a ton of information about high school radio in the United States. I’ve posted photos and videos that show what fun it is to work on a high school radio station. With only 190 stations nationwide, we need to bring awareness to our programs which are unique. I’ve also added links to other resources for high school radio staff and students.

*66 high school radio station advisors/teachers are on a group email list that I created which allows them to share information for one person or for the good of all. Advisors can ask questions related to running a high school station and get feedback instantaneously…so cool!

*A High School Radio Discussion group was created on Facebook which now has 53 members who can share information and ask questions of other members…also very cool! Especially a good resource for advisors who are new to high school radio.

*A High School Radio Network was created by Ralph Martin which allows high school stations to share their programming on a network which can be aired on any member station…currently there are 28 stations from 15 states participating. More info at hsradionetwork.com.

*A High School Radio Exchange was created by Kelly Jones which allows students to post their content on a site which can be used by other stations around the US. A PSA done by one student in Michigan can be heard on a station in California, Illinois and Massachusetts.

*A High School Radio Day Twitter account was created by me to promote high school radio activities nationwide. High School stations created their own Twitter accounts that has allowed stations to promote their own activities which I can retweet for all to see. I also set up a HSRD Instagram account.

*A High School Radio Day page was created by me on Facebook for publicizing activities of high school radio stations nationwide, another social media presence to bring awareness to the fact that HIGH SCHOOL RADIO ROCKS!

*A bi-monthly Zoom call has been created to discuss issues of importance for high school radio stations, another form of sharing but even better when we can see and hear who you are talking to. I participated in the April 14, 2021 Zoom call. Love it!

Ralph Martin, Conservatory Education Director/KVCB 100.9 FM Manager, Vacaville Christian Schools, Vacaville CA and Founder/Coordinator of the National High School Radio Network had this to say: “So far I haven’t had the honor of meeting Pete Bowers. His reputation is widely known and it represents some of what’s best about high school radio. It isn’t just in the great quality of his station, but in what I believe to be the single most important step spearheaded for high school radio—National High School Radio Day! Pete created a way for all stations to come together and discuss the challenges and successes that are common with all of our stations regardless of size or financial ability. High School Radio Day brought together radio stations in a non-competitive and supportive way—got us to talk—got us to be excited about what we do and how we’re the same in so many ways—as well as—how we’re different. I love what we’ve done with the National High School Radio Network—but that’s just one project. High School Radio Day is a celebration of all that is High School Radio.

Pete…I could never express the importance of the day you created for high school radio!! It was the first time I had ever thought that there was a vibrant community of excited radio teachers and advisers operating virtually alone before you brought them together. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to suggest that you may have saved several stations across America from going silent. We need you now more than ever to continue High School Radio Day. I really really really hope there’s another High School Radio Day this year! I can’t think of anything more important to our cause—can you?”