WMSV staffers take national awards

Reporter Jay Houts of Birmingham, Ala., and on-air personality Genniver E. McKey of Port Gibson each won first-place honors at the annual awards ceremony of the National Association of College Broadcasters. Held last fall in Providence, R.I., the competition drew radio and video entries from colleges and universities around the nation.

WMSV station manager Steve Ellis, left, congratulates Genniver McKey and Jay Houts on their awards.

The awards are not the first for WMSV. Since going on the air in March 1994, the FM station has received major honors from the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and College Music Journal. The 24-hour-a-day operation received five first-place MAB awards last summer and also was named in one of CMJ's 50 most influential stations.

"Even though we received the earlier honors, we're simply floored by these latest awards," said station general manager Steve Ellis. "This is just an example of the fine work being done by the more than 75 student volunteers."

The 14,000-watt station at 91.1 FM broadcasts year-round to a 50-mile radius of campus.