KMIH 88.9 The Bridge Student Broadcasters Win National Honors

Front Row (from left): Ethan Schaps, Mia Tamarkin, Aadyaa Singhal, Kylie Oordt, Maggie Anderson, Alisha Kahn. Back Row: Justen Bienstock, Porter Larsen, Magnus Zettel, Cooper Jensen, Will Prock, Ginger Schwartz, Ava Chastain. Not Pictured: Emerson Woods, Brooke Newell, Edward Li, Sophia Rodriguez, Toly Odievich

Mercer Island, WA, March 4, 2026 — Student broadcasters from KMIH 88.9 The Bridge have earned national recognition at the prestigious Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) awards ceremony held in New York City, bringing home top honors across multiple categories in podcasting, sports broadcasting, storytelling, promotions, engineering and station operations.

The IBS Awards celebrate excellence in student-run media programs across the country. Competing against high school stations nationwide, KMIH students were recognized for their creativity, professionalism and commitment to producing meaningful and impactful content.

2026 KMIH IBS National Award Winners:

• Best On-Air Personality – Kylie Oordt
• Best Specialty Show – Edward Li (Poppin’ Politics)
• Best Celebrity or Band Interview – Brooke Newell (Interview with SYML)
• Best Radio Drama – Ginger Schwartz (Under Your Bed)
• Best Sports Interview – Sophia Rodriguez (Eating Disorders in Female Distance Running)
• Best News Feature Story – Emerson Woods (The Rise of Women’s Wrestling)
• Best Station Promotional Event – 4th Period (Curriculum Night)
• Best Website – KMIH (Aadyaa Singhal, Maggie Anderson, Lauren Schechter)
• Best Promo Series – Students Are Back! (Maggie Anderson, Will Prock, Porter Larsen, Mia Tamarkin, Cooper Jensen, Justen Beinstock, Magnus Zettel, Kylie Oordt, Brooke Newell)
• Best Event Promo – What’s New on KMIH (Mia Tamarkin & Maggie Anderson)
• Best Underwriting/Commercial Spot – Breakfast on The Bridge / Christy Shiers (Alisha Khan)
• Best Music Director(s) – Brooke Newell & Ava Chastain
• Best Student Staff Member – Ethan Schaps
• Award for Outstanding Engineering – Toly Odievich
• Best Faculty Advisor in TV – Michael Ketchum

“These awards are a reflection of the incredible dedication our students bring to KMIH every single day,” said Natalie Woods, Broadcast Teacher at KMIH 88.9 The Bridge. “I’m so proud of the professionalism, creativity and originality they show in their broadcasting. Whether they are telling meaningful stories, producing podcasts, or managing the technical side of KMIH operations, they approach their work with diligence and purpose. To see that recognized on a national stage is really rewarding.”

These awards highlight the depth and diversity of student talent at KMIH — from on-air performance and in-depth storytelling to technical production, promotional strategy, digital presence and station leadership. Students from all levels of the program received awards.

KMIH 88.9 The Bridge serves the Mercer Island community as a student-run radio station committed to broadcasting student voices, informing the public, covering MIHS sports and providing listeners with diverse music and content.

You can tune into KMIH at 88.9 FM, download the KMIH app or livestream the station from the website at 889thebridge.org.