WONC station manager wins first-place trophy as Best Sportscaster

North Central College student broadcaster Kevin Jackman ’14 was named Best Sportscaster in the state at the 2013 Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) Silver Dome Awards, held June 19 in Peoria. The Silver Domes are the most prestigious broadcast performance award in the state.

Jackman, a senior majoring in broadcast communication and interactive media studies/convergent media, competed with commercial broadcasters to win his first-place trophy in the Small Market Radio division.

Over-the-air broadcast stations and on-air talent in small, medium and Chicago market commercial radio, as well as medium and Chicago market television, were included in the competition.

Starting fall 2013, Jackman will be station manager at North Central’s student-run radio station, WONC-FM 89.1, and responsible for supervising some 75 student broadcasters. During his tenure at WONC, Jackman has been nominated for and won many awards through the IBA and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS). Most recently, he has won first-place awards for Best Sports Play-By-Play, Best Radio Spot and Best Use of Interactive Media.

“To be nominated, much less win an award at any level, is an extremely rewarding experience, both individually and for WONC,” says Jackman. “This particular award, however, validated my hard work more than the other awards due to the level of the competition of the field. It was a special night to be among many of the individuals I’ve grown up watching and listening to.”

Jackman, a resident of Glenview, is a graduate of Glenbrook South High School.

The IBA Silver Dome Awards are divided into three station categories based on market size. Chicago stations compete in the Major Market category; stations in Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Joliet, Marion-Carbondale, Peoria, Quad Cities, Quincy, Rockford and Springfield compete in the Medium Market category. All others compete in the Small Market Category, along with all college stations.

WONC is among the most honored collegiate radio stations in America and has won national and state awards in commercial and collegiate competitions. With a 30-mile listening radius and potential listening audience of four million people, WONC’s pure rock music format broadcasts a mix of news, sports, traffic, music and public affairs programming 24 hours a day, year-round. Listen live at wonc.org.