Broadcast Media Students at MIHS Named as Finalists for Numerous National Awards 

Mercer Island, WA, January 10, 2025 - Mercer Island High School Broadcast Media students have been nominated for more than 30 national awards by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS).

The nominated students includes both KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV being tapped as top high school radio station, best TV newscast, and best faculty advisor for all three MIHS media teachers. IBS is one of the top organizations in the country that supports student media and is home to the prestigious Golden Microphone Awards. With their nominations, the radio and TV programs at MIHS have proven once again that the creative and professional work they do on the airwaves at KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV is among the nation’s best by high school students. 

This marks the second time this school year that KMIH 88.9 the Bridge has been in the running for top high school radio station. The student-broadcasters at The Bridge won the top honor at the John Drury Broadcasting Awards in the fall and are now up for the same award at IBS. MIHS.TV is also gaining national attention in awards competitions with its highly acclaimed weekly broadcast, The Current. 

This year’s IBS finalist selections from MIHS Broadcast Media students, which are listed below, includes coverage of our schools and community. Some programs nominated include:

• An interview about the District’s new phone policy featuring Superintendent Fred Rundle;
• The podcast “Wold’s World” with high school principal Nick Wold;
• A moving tribute by KMIH’s Jewish broadcasters marking the anniversary of the October 7th attacks in Israel;
• Other outstanding sports, news and public service programing offered on both 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV.

KMIH General Manager and media teacher, Joe Bryant is proud to see that the broadcasting programs at Mercer Island High School continue to capture so much attention nationally.

“I’m excited to have so many of our students recognized for their work and am particularly proud that our nominees include some of our freshmen that are just getting started on their broadcast journey. And to have so many of the entries involve our students highlighting the Mercer Island community and our MISD administrators, sports teams and local news and events is awesome.”

The Golden Microphone winners will be announced at the Sheraton Hotel in Times Square in New York on March 7th. Mercer Island High School’s broadcast media students will travel to New York to attend the conference and awards. There they will have the opportunity to meet other high school broadcasters, talk to students and professors from some of the nation’s top universities, and learn about the craft of broadcasting from professionals in the media industry including this year’s keynote speaker, Al Roker of NBC’s The Today Show.

2024-25 IBS Nominations

ON-AIR CATEGORIES

Best Talk Program - Jayne Tintle, Audrey Tintle, Samantha Hinnen (What’s Poppin’ )

Best Specialty Show - Will Prock (Today in History)

Best Celebrity Interview - Chloe Yang (Garden Guru Cisco Morris)

Best Documentary - Chloe Yang (East to West)

Best Radio Drama - Sebby Pong (Spooky story/NETV training video)

Best Public Affairs Program - Sam Paddor, Joe Schliefer, Chase Koehler (Oct. 7th Remembrance)

SPORTS CATEGORIES

Best Sports Play-by-Play (football) - Maggie Blohm & Max Pelter

Best Sports Play-by-Play (volleyball) - Maggie Gibson, Samantha Back & Willa Shopay 

Best Sports Update - Aadyaa Singhal & Sydney Parcel

Best Sports Interview - Maggie Blohm (coaches & players recap), Hadley Holtzclaw (Volleyball senior night)

NEWS CATEGORIES

Best Newscast - Chloe Yang 

Best News Feature - Luke Loiselle (Supersonic Aircraft)

Best News Interview - Nicole Henderson (American Youth Association)

Best Campus/Community News - Maggie Blohm & Nick Wold (Wold’s World), Chloe Yang (MI Phone Free Schools)

Best Political News - Mia Tamarkin (Flipping The “For You” Page)

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS CATEGORIES

Best Logo - Chloe Yang (Emerald City Echos)

Best Show Promotional Poster - Jayne Tintle (Song of The Week)

WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA CATEGORIES

Best Podcast - Sam Paddor (Singing Songs and Carrying Signs)

Best Website - KMIH Students/Staff (KMIH.org), MIHS TV Students/Staff (MIHS.TV) 

Best Social Media - Anna Carson (KMIH Instagram)

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Show Intro - Kylie Oordt, Aaliyah Khan, Cooper Jensen (Bop or Flop)

Best PSA - Sebby Pong (Prune Your Trees)

Best Station ID - Sebby Pong (Islanders on The Air)

VIDEO CATEGORIES

Best Video Newscast - MIHS TV Staff (The Current)

Best Sports Report - Henley Bui, Hadley Holtzclaw, Ingrid Marks, Aikum Bains, Ryan Rockfeld, Gian Manhas (The Current, Homecoming Edition)

Best Video Comedy Program - Miccah Drummond (Micah’s Minute) 

MANAGEMENT AWARDS

Best High School Radio Station - KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

Best Radio Station Student Manager - Hayley Nguyen

Best Radio Faculty Advisor - Joe Bryant & Natalie Woods 

Best TV Faculty Advisor - Michael Ketchum