KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV Win Prestigious Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards

Front Row: Joe Bryant-radio faculty advisor, Micah Drummond, Maggie Gibson, Samantha Back, Willa Shopay, Natalie Woods-radio faculty advisor. Back Row: Lauren Schechter-teacher, Sam Paddor, Nova Shiers, Joe Shleifer, Sophia Loiselle, Chloe Yang, Michael Ketchum-video faculty advisor.

Mercer Island, WA, March 12, 2025 - Mercer Island High School’s student-run media programs, KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV, have been recognized as some of the best in the nation, earning multiple accolades at the 2025 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Awards, which was held this past weekend at the Times Square Sheraton Hotel in New York. The honors highlight the exceptional talent and dedication of MIHS students and faculty advisors in both radio and video broadcasting.

KMIH 88.9 The Bridge was awarded the coveted Golden Microphone for being America’s top high school radio station for 2025, solidifying its reputation as a premier student-run radio station. KMIH also won the Best Radio station award in 2024 at the John Drury Awards in Chicago, making it the first high school radio station ever to win these top honors consecutively.

Additionally, faculty advisors Joe Bryant and Natalie Woods were awarded Best Radio Faculty Advisor(s) for their guidance and commitment to fostering student excellence in broadcasting. MIHS.TV also received national recognition, with Michael Ketchum honored as Best Video Faculty Advisor for his leadership in the school’s media technology and filmmaking program.

KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV’s dedication to high-quality content was further acknowledged with numerous awards across multiple categories:

● Best Campus/Community News – Chloe Yang’s compelling interview with Superintendent Fred Rundle about the District’s new phone free policy.

● Best Public Affairs Program – Jewish students Joe Shleifer, Sam Paddor, and Chase Koehler provided insightful coverage on the first anniversary of the October 7^th attack on Israel.

● Best Sports Play-by-Play (Football) – Maggie Blohm & Max Pelter delivered outstanding live sports coverage.

● Best Sports Play-by-Play (Volleyball) – Joe Shleifer, Maggie Gibson, Samantha Back & Willa Shopay showcased their talent in volleyball broadcasting.

● Best Sports Interview – Hadley Holtzclaw produced an engaging interview about Volleyball Senior Night.

● Best Podcast – Sam Paddor for his in-depth coverage of the history of protest music in Singing Songs and Carrying Signs.

● Best Celebrity Interview – Chloe Yang for her conversation with Garden Guru Cisco Morris.

● Best Website – Sophia Loiselle was recognized for her exceptional work on the 889TheBridge.org website.

● Best Comedy Program (MIHS.TV ) – Micah Drummond for his Micah’s Minute segment on MIHS.TV’s weekly program, The Current.

“These highly competitive awards represent the hard work, creativity and excellence of our KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV students “ said Broadcast Media Advisor, Natalie Woods. “We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the national recognition they’ve received. I encourage everyone in our community to tune-in to our radio station and TV program to hear and see the outstanding content.”

KMIH 88.9 The Bridge and MIHS.TV continue to set the standard for student-led media by providing engaging, professional-quality content to the Mercer Island community and beyond. Both platforms can be found online at KMIH.org and MIHS.TV. KMIH can also be heard by streaming live at KMIH.org or downloading the station’s KMIH 88.9 FM app.