WSGE 91.7 FM 40th Anniversary Celebration and Fall/Year-end Drive a Success
Listeners of WSGE 91.7 FM, Gaston College’s award-winning radio station, lent their support to make the station’s 40th Anniversary celebration and Fall/Year-end Drive successful.
Gaston College Broadcast and Production Technology students Emily Biser, Erika Shelton, and Leah Bivens helped to promote the station’s 40th Anniversary celebration and fund-raising efforts.
As a non-commercial station, WSGE solicits individual and corporate donations to assist with operating expenses. With the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the community and the economy, there was concern that the station would not meet its fundraising goals this year. However, the fall/year-end drives exceeded those targets, as did the pledges for the spring 2020 drive. “If it were not for the residents of Gaston, Mecklenburg, Lincoln and surrounding counties, we would not have surpassed our goals,” said Cathis Hall, WSGE Station Manager. “I want to especially acknowledge the generosity of our listeners.”
Although restrictions due to the pandemic made it necessary for WSGE to cancel many of its usual events and activities, the station did get involved in some community initiatives. They were the media sponsor of the Belmont Virtual Juneteenth Celebration, and they assisted a local Cub Scout troop with their food drive for the Dallas Christian Ministry. Also, Tim Greene, WSGE’s Assistant Program/Music Director and an on-air personality, coordinated a Pre-Thanksgiving Giveaway at St. Michael’s Thrift Shop in Gastonia.
Students in the Gaston College Gaston College Broadcasting and Production Technology program helped to promote the station’s efforts. Radio production students, under the leadership of instructor Nick Cable, produced promotional spots for the 40th Anniversary celebration and went live on Facebook to encourage donations. Some students of Kate Carmody, Program Chair and instructor, edited Anniversary videos of band performances. Also, student Cullen Hall produced a video, posted on WSGE’s Facebook page, promoting the uses of the Amazon Echo Dot. That device was a premium/thank you gift offered during the year-end fundraising drive.
“The “fall/year-end drive goal of $70,000 was exceeded. With the success of this drive, the station has received in pledges/donations over $145,000 this year. The money raised supports the general operation of the station, such as NPR membership and programming fees, Internet streaming, equipment purchase/repairs, supplies, and more,” said Hall.”
“We sincerely appreciate our listeners for making our 40th Anniversary Celebration Fall/Year-end drives successful,” said Hall. “I’d also like to acknowledge Carolina artists like the HC Oakes Band, Province of Thieves, and the Rick Strickland Band for producing performance videos that encouraged donations to the station. They, along with several nationally recognized bands, truly helped make our celebration special.”
Hall added, “And, of course I want to recognize WSGE’s professional staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure our success. We look forward to 40 more years of great music, quality programming, and giving back to the community.”
About WSGE 91.7 FM Radio
Owned and operated by Gaston College, WSGE began broadcasting on October 27, 1980, and currently transmits at 7,500 watts, giving it the potential to reach 550,000 persons in approximately 10 counties. Located on Gaston College’s Dallas campus, WSGE is a volunteer-driven station that operates 24 hours a day under the slogan, “Your Independent Music Source.”
WSGE is one of only four community colleges in North Carolina with a non-commercial radio station. The others are Craven Community College in New Bern, Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, and Isothermal Community College in Spindale.
WSGE derives financial support through state funds from its affiliation with Gaston College, listener support, corporate sponsorship and underwriting, a Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant.
