The radio station known as The Voice of the Elks has been part of Centerville High School since 1971 with its first graduating class in 1972. For the past 50 years, a select number of students have learned all about broadcasting technology with hands-on experience.
The original concept was dreamed up by math teacher Roy Grimes and drama teacher Ken Carper. The two found a home for the station’s first broadcast studio in a third-floor bathroom of what is now Magsig Middle School. Not long after, it moved to its current location in the West Unit of CHS. Over time, the station has grown with continual technical and structural improvements.
Today, WCWT-FM 107.3 is Centerville and Washington Township’s only radio station. It’s FCC-licensed, completely programmed, and run by students enrolled in the Communication Arts program. “Radio,” as the program is affectionately known to students, is a two-year Career Tech Education elective. It provides participants with technical training along with experience they can take with them into a variety of careers. In some cases, they can even earn college credits and scholarships.
According to Tricia Rapoch, communication arts teacher, “Juniors and seniors do weekly shows. They choose their on-air partners as well as the show's format. Some do sports shows, others cover new artists and entertainment or even discuss unsolved murder mysteries. We also broadcast home football, soccer and basketball games. The students create the hourly music loops, and those can be quite eclectic - from country to classic rock to current Billboard top 40.”
Tricia is in her sixteenth year with the radio program. Her extensive radio background, including her work at the largest news talk station in Canada, led her on a path from volunteer and substitute to leading the radio program as a teacher of Communication Arts.
Each year, Tricia accepts eighteen into the program. Students spend a lot of time together working as a team to keep the station going and she says many of them become like family. “It’s a happy atmosphere here and my former students still reach out to me years later.”
The current students agree. “It’s more than just a class,” says senior Reagan Neal. “We’ve built a family. Mrs. Rapoch has taught me so much and I will forever be grateful to her. Building a website for the station and presenting it at the Miami Valley Tech Prep showcase to win 1st place was the best.”
Gracen Hagon, a senior in the program, echoes the sentiment, saying, “The thing that makes WCWT so unique, and the thing I love the most, is the people!” Senior Jack Meade adds, “The opportunities that this program offers can be truly life-changing, and I feel very lucky that I’m able to have this opportunity in high school.”
All Radio students have Adobe Creative Suite 6 (CS6) licenses and are trained on the Wide Orbit broadcast platform. They also develop their speaking, listening, presentation and writing skills. Every station ID, promo, PSA, music loop, on-air show and interview is done by the students. Last year, the junior class built a website, and now CHS-WCWT.com enables the students to do more, like stream and podcast.
Listeners who enjoy the station email Tricia regularly. She shared a message she received during the last football broadcast, saying, “Our community loves to listen to our students!” One message said, “My husband and I are thoroughly enjoying the football broadcasters tonight! It’s the first time we've listened to the game via radio. Whoever these boys are, they're hilarious, but also very good announcers!”
The community benefits from the station in other ways too. Each year, students put together a community-based project to fulfill the FCC license requirements. Past projects have included the Flip Your Lid recycling program, a local band fest called Rock4Radio, clothing drives for underserved communities and more.
Not only does WCWT help the community, but Tricia also points out that community members are quick to help too. “When we need to update our equipment, organizations such as the Centerville Noon Optimists and alumnus Mike Craddick of Shaq's Big Chicken help us.” Steve Rauch, a community member and owner of a local demolition company also recently made a generous monetary donation.
Former radio student Will Bevis was mentored by founder Roy Grimes and is now a radio engineer. Tricia notes, “He continues to volunteer his time on weekends to keep our studios up and running due to Mr. Grimes’ impact on his life. I don’t know what I’d do without him,” says Tricia.
To celebrate their golden anniversary, the class of 2023 is inviting alumni of WCWT to reunite with fellow classmates and revisit the happy memories of the program this month. The November 4 gathering will feature a meet and greet, followed by dinner. Former students are invited to take a walk down memory lane and visit the current studios.
Founders Ken Carper, along with Roy Grime’s widow, Cathy, will be in attendance. WCWT is hoping to see as many alumni as possible for the occasion. If interested in attending please fill out the RSVP form at CHS-WCWT.com or email Tricia at tricia.rapoch@centerville.k12.oh.us.