WZND goes nationwide again. Illinois State University’s student radio station recently won the College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) Radio Station of the Year award. The station has been recognized with national awards before, but this newest award, given for the first time, carries importance beyond the hard-working crew at WZND.
Steve Suess ’10, M.S. ’12, faculty advisor for WZND, said the award, which is designed to honor excellence in both programming and station operations, sets the station and the University apart.
“Illinois State has a long history of broadcast success, and this award further cements that status,” Suess said. “This award puts both ISU and WZND in a class of our own. This is the first time CBI has done a station of the year competition, and winning the inaugural award helps both WZND and ISU with brand recognition, student recruitment, and retention.
“Alongside our four other national station of the year awards from the Broadcast Education Association, these awards put both the University and our station on a tier above other programs both regionally and nationally.”
In addition, WZND placed in the top four in four other categories in CBI’s National Student Production Competition at the National Student Media Convention held in Denver in October. Those include: fourth place for Best Newscast or Sportscast; third place for Best Special Broadcast; first place for Best Station Imaging; and first place for Best Public Service Announcement.
Cheyenne Brown, a senior mass media/media arts major from Aurora, is WZND’s general manager. She won first place in the Best Public Service Announcement (PSA) category for her work on a voter-registration PSA.
“That was pretty awesome,” Brown said. “I’ve submitted stuff in the past, a lot of them with my team, but it was kind of cool that this was a solo project for me.”
“Illinois State has a long history of broadcast success, and this award further cements that status. This award puts both ISU and WZND in a class of our own.”
Steve Suess, WZND faculty advisor
Brown oversees 30 other students in leadership roles, as well as 100 volunteer interns at the station. Previously, she was the station’s production director. Much of her work in that role was included in the Station of the Year award entry, Suess said.
Brown said she “wandered” in the door at WZND after attending an informational meeting during the first semester of her freshman year.
“I started my first semester with a friend from home,” she said. “We did theater tech, and it felt like a natural progression. It felt welcoming, and everyone was happy to be here and eager to talk to us.”
Brown said her time at WZND has included plenty of hands-on experience. She’s worked on varied projects with on-air personalities, producers, graphic designers, and journalists. But, she said, it’s been about more than the practical work experience.
“So many of us consider this place home,” she said. “I’ve made my best friends here. We’ve traveled to conventions together. Being here has changed my career outlook and my life outlook.”
Jameson Warfield, a senior double major in history and mass media/media arts from Dunlap, is WZND program director. He shares Brown’s feelings for the station.
“The people are the coolest part,” Warfield said. “I felt so welcomed right from the start my freshman year. I’m really close friends with people here and live with three other people who work at WZND.”
Prior to becoming program director, Warfield worked in programming, news, sports, and music. He oversees a staff of 35 students who are on-air talent. It’s his third semester in this role of coordinating, training, and improving the largest team of students at WZND. He said the station welcomes all majors.
“This is absolutely not just a place for mass media majors because you do so much stuff here,” he said. “We all have the same goal in mind, and that’s to be the nation’s best radio station.”
For someone who didn’t arrive on campus with his eye on getting a job at the school’s radio station, things worked out well.
“I joined on a whim,” Warfield said. “It was between this and club lacrosse, but I think I made the right decision. Nothing against lacrosse, but this place is just awesome.”
Brown and Warfield said they’ve learned a lot by watching Suess lead.
“He cares deeply about each of us, and he’ll help with your resume and with job advice, but he’ll also help you find a good restaurant too if you need that,” Brown said. “He keeps sailing this ship with 130 people on board.”
Warfield appreciates how Suess keeps his cool.
“Steve is able to keep such a clear head when the rest of us are thinking it’s the end of the world,” Warfield said. “He’s been there, so he gets everyone centered again. He’s the kind of leader you want to do whatever you can to help him and the station. He explains why he’s asking you to do something. I’ve learned so much from him. He’s one of the best bosses you could ask for.”
Brown and Warfield are joined on WZND’s Management Council by Cami Serrahn, WZND External Relations director; Colleen Holden, WZND News and Sports operations director; Lauren Curtin, promotions director; Jaden Cohn, studio manager; and Riley Klump and Alayna Ferriman, client services directors. They all started at WZND as freshmen and will begin their eighth semester at the station in the spring.
Suess said he’s heard other faculty talk about how students are distracted today and unable to disconnect from their phones long enough to have meaningful learning opportunities. He said that’s not the case with his students.
“I’m just so proud of them all, and I’m blessed to work with talented, motivated students every day,” Suess said. “WZND is more than a radio station. It’s a vehicle for student and professional growth.”
Attend WZND’s informational meeting: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 7:30 p.m., Fell Hall, Room 148
Listen to WZND at 103.3 FM in Bloomington-Normal and online.
