College of the Desert’s student radio station, COD Roadrunner Radio received the top honor for Best Streaming Online Community College Radio Station, while two students earned individual awards. L. Angelo Benevides won Best Podcast for his show, “The Podcast.” His classmate, Dante Grasseschi, took home Best Specialty Music Show for “Music Seeking Movie.”
Several other COD students were named finalists in their respective categories, including Martha Hackett (Best Student On-Air Personality), Cynthia Portillo-Rodriguez (Best Sports Pre-Game/Post-Game Show for “The Firebirds — Hockey”), and Vanessa Braden (Best Student Social Media Director). Celina Gentry, a lab technician at the COD Media Center, was also a finalist in the Best Community Volunteer Program category.
Some COD nominees placed in the top 5% across multiple categories.
College of the Desert has won Golden Mic Awards in the past, but this is the first year the college has taken home the top prize.
Radio Manager Scott Colwell celebrated the milestone in a press release. “These students come to us eager and ready to learn, dedicating hours to perfecting their skills and creating relevant content for the station,” he said. “They truly deserve this honor.”
Associate Professor of Media Production Laurilie Jackson also praised the achievement. “This year, we did it. Our students, faculty, and staff are incredibly creative and talented, and their hard work has paid off.”
Famed journalist and NBC television personality Al Roker spoke at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference, where the awards were presented. He congratulated the winners and finalists from each school and reflected on his own beginnings in radio.
“While I work in TV, my start was radio. It’s the greatest form of interpersonal communication that exists,” Roker told the audience.
Congratulations to College of the Desert, its students, and faculty for these outstanding awards and nominations. These accomplishments, built on the success of COD Roadrunner Radio, continue to grow the station’s reputation.
To listen to COD Roadrunner Radio, visit www.codroadrunnerradio.com.
