WGRE 91.5 FM No. 4 college radio station in the nation

GREENCASTLE -- The Princeton Review's 2009 Best 366 Colleges lists DePauw University's WGRE 91.5 FM radio station as the No. 4 college radio station in the nation.

WGRE has been ranked within the top 10 for the past decade. The station also celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. This year's ranking is down one slot from last years number three slot in the Review.

The station, which is award-winning in news, sports and public affairs, works with a staff of about 200 DePauw students. It is governed by a 15-member student board of directors and is overseen by faculty advisor Dr. Jeff McCall.

During the school year the station broadcasts live 24 hours a day from the Center for Contemporary Media at DePauw.

The station covers Tiger athletics, trains deejays at all skill levels, partners with the community in various giveback opportunities and has introduced students to breakout artists including Lupe Fiasco, the Raconteurs, Modest Mouse, John Mellencamp and Wilco.

Deejays create their own specialty shows. Last year's shows included a weekly discussion on relevant feminist issues, a show devoted to jazz, blues, rock and fusion music called the "Best Week Ever and a half-hour of WordPlay," which explored the nuances, oddities and playfulness of daily conversation.

Over the past 15 years WGRE has received more than 100 awards for news, sports, public service and other activities from organizations such as the Indiana Associated Press Broadcasters, Indiana Press Club and Sigma Delta Chi.

The station has been a finalist three times for the National Association of Broadcasters' highest honor, the Crystal Award, which recognizes service to community.

WGRE is the only non-commercial station to have been so recognized.

In 1941, DePauw University got its first taste of radio when students began broadcasting on WIRE, an Indianapolis radio station that provided airtime to the school.

On April 28, 1949 WGRE began broadcasting across the airwaves. They were also the first radio station in Putnam County.

In 1962, the station moved from 10 to 250 watts and increased their broadcast radius from 6 to 25 miles. Five years later, WGRE was named Station of the Month by the magazine College Radio.

In 1986, the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day during the school year. They have continued their round-the-clock programming since that date.

When the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media opened in 1991, WGRE relocated to a state-of-the art facility there and broadcast now at 800-watts.

Their horizons expanded even more in 2000 when they began broadcasting over the World Wide Web.

WGRE is 91.5 FM on the radio dial. It can also be accessed at www.wgre.org

Call them at 658-4641 or send an Instant Message to WGREREQUEST on AOL Instant Messenger with song requests.