Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
Rider’s student-run radio station won for Best College Morning Show and the Best Station Giveaway
by Adam Grybowski
Rider University’s student-run radio station, 107.7 The Bronc, won two Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Media Awards during a ceremony in New York City on March 8. The station took home awards for Best College Morning Show and Best Station Giveaway.
“In the world of college radio, these are the big awards,” says John Mozes, The Bronc’s general manager. “We worked really hard for these wins, and they validate what we do at the station.”
Mozes describes the station’s morning show, Wake Up Rider, as the cornerstone of 107.7 The Bronc — the show that sets the tone for the entire station. It has become a campus staple since it was originally created in January 2022 by Rob Brown ’22 as an independent study project. The show continued to take shape under the leadership of Nick Witkowski, a senior communication studies major from Plainsboro, New Jersey, who helped Wake Up Rider grow into a structured program with a team of six hosts, regular segments and sponsorships from local businesses.
“Winning this award solidified that we have a great on-air product,” says Witkowski, who contributed both on-air as a host and behind the scenes before stepping away this year to accept an internship with Fox News. “It was also a nice reflection of what I put into it.”
In addition to Wake Up Rider, The Bronc was recognized for its innovative giveaways during its annual Eggscellent Egg Hunt.
“The egg hunt now draws 2,000 students,” Mozes says. “After COVID, we wanted to up the ante and introduce even bigger prizes that students would get excited about.”
Last year’s grand prizes included a cruise for two to the Bahamas courtesy of Josh Harry Travel. This year, one egg will contain a 2.5-carat diamond pendant from Peroni’s Hidden Treasures, along with another cruise. In total, about $30,000 worth of prizes will be available.
“It’s all about the experience,” Mozes says. “It’s a chance for students to forget about everything else for a few hours and just have fun.”
Established in 1940, IBS represents over 1,000 education-affiliated radio stations and webcasters nationwide, recognizing excellence in student broadcasting. This year, 107.7 The Bronc WRRC-FM and its online counterpart, 107.7 The Bronc Retro WRRC2, received a record 11 nominations. The station has also been a finalist for Best College/University Radio Station (under 10,000 students) for three consecutive years and has previously won the title.
Mozes, who has led the station for over a decade, expressed immense pride in the students’ achievements.
“I enjoy watching the students succeed,” he says. “I was so excited for them and for the fact that we’ve created a product we can be proud of and that the University can be proud of. That’s what continues to drive me.”
The station’s reputation has grown considerably during Mozes’ tenure. In 2023, it was ranked the No. 9 Best College Radio Station by The Princeton Review and has been a four-time nominee for the National Association of Broadcasters’ Marconi Award for College Radio Station of the Year.
As Witkowski prepares to graduate, he is focused on securing a full-time role in media production, hoping to work as a television producer. Reflecting on his time at Rider and his contributions to Wake Up Rider, he sees the recent award as a fitting close to his college career.
“It’s a nice end to the circle of life at my time at Rider,” he says. “I’ll always be proud of what we built.”