KSDB was licensed to broadcast by the Federal Communications Commission in 1949.

In the past 50 years, KSDB has had many faces and names, but its mission has remained the same— education and service. Countless youth have passed through KSDB’s doors all with different expectations and dreams. Some sought celebrity and most found camaraderie. Almost all left with fond memories. Kansas State and KSDB are truly in their golden age. From a humble beginning, KSDB has reinvented itself repeatedly. From 10 watts to 1400, Nicholls Gymnasium to McCain Auditorium, KSDB has survived technical and emotional challenges. KSDB has continued its award winning tradition. Over the past years, KSDB has dominated the Kansas Association of Broadcaster’s student awards with awards in Sports Play-by-Play, Public Service Announcements, On-Air Personality, Public Affairs Programs, Newscasts, Features, Station Promotions and Academic Writing.

KSDB was the second low-wattage, educational FM in the state. Wichita State had the first. KSDB started broadcasting at 10 watts, which barely covered Manhattan. In the Fall of 1980. KSDB upped its power to 100 watts and then again in 1987 to 1400 watts-- where it still is today. 1400 watts KSDB to broadcast over nearly 30 miles in each directions covering Fort Riley, Wamego, Riley, and other small communities in the area. Changes in technology have allowed KSDB to stretch its audience reach without upping the wattage. KSDB also streams audio via the web. People can log in to wildcatradio.ksu.edu and listen to programming from their computer as if they were listening over their radio. Alumni all over the world have emailed Candy Walton thanking her for the service. The most popular times by far are the web-casts of sporting events- like football, basketball and volleyball.

In the past 50 years, KSDB has had countless students pass through its ranks. There are many things to be proud of. The broadcast industry has a reputation of being dominated by men-- mainly white men, but take a look at KSDB’s staff. As early as 1961, KSDB had a female student station manager. In the mid-60s, half of the photos in the newspaper articles featuring KSDB were of minority students. This trend continues today with nearly 45% of the student executive staff are women and nearly 30% of the staff are minority students.

In September 1998, Candace Walton took over as Interim Station Manager and Faculty Adviser of KSDB. Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications Dr. Todd Simon and Candace Walton along with members of the KSDB Advisory Board and KSDB staff revamped the student staff structure. In this a new student executive director position was created. The Program Director is responsible for hiring the executive staff at KSDB and creating the programming schedule for KSDB. This student is also responsible for representing the station to the campus and community. KSDB is on its seventh student program director, Matt Pauley. In short, this structure is working. Because students choose the programming on the station, students and community tuning in like what they hear.

Finally, in the past few years KSDB has dominated the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB) student awards. This competition places entries from universities and colleges against each other. KSDB has represented Kansas State University well winning awards in each category. In Spring 2003, KSDB won 21 student awards (a near sweep) from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.

Kansas State University students won numerous awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters this year. Student winners accepted the awards Wednesday, April 16, in Wichita.

About 91.9's success at the Spring 2003 Kansas Association of Broadcaster's student radio awards...

KSDB's student radio station won 21 audio awards. In addition, K-State's 2002 Upward Bound Class won a first place for "Walkin' Away Summer" in the 30-second commercial, PSA or donor announcement category.

Candace L. T. Walton, KSDB-FM director, station manager and faculty adviser, said the 21 awards were a record number for the station staff. Walton herself won an honorable mention among graduate radio entries for "Student Media Theories" in the research paper category.

Students winning awards, alphabetically by hometown, along with the award and category, follow:

In undergraduate radio, Josh Wells, Andover, senior in mass communications, electronic journalism, received a second place for "Pomeroy" in the 60 second commercial, PSA, or donor announcement category; honorable mention for Student Elections Coverage Series in the public affairs program category; first for K-State Football vs. Nebraska in sports play-by-play; first for "Sports Talk" in the entertainment program category. He also received first in the complete newscast category for his work as a KFDI news intern.

In undergraduate radio, Vanessa Alexander, Fort Riley, senior in mass communications, received a first for the Nov. 6, 2002 KSDB newscast in the complete newscast category; an honorable mention for "KKSU, The Voice of Kansas State University" in the documentary category; and a first for "Final Days of KKSU" in the complete news feature category. Also in undergraduate radio, Kenneth Titus, Great Bend, freshman in pre-journalism, received first place for "Sports Talk" in the entertainment program category; honorable mention for "Ask Me" in the station promotion announcement category; honorable mention for Student Elections Coverage Series in the public affairs program category; honorable mention for his work on K-State Football vs. University of Nebraska coverage in the "Sports Report" category. He received a second place in the d.j. personality air check category for his Big Kat 97.5 internship.

In undergraduate radio, Jeric Toney, Lansing, junior in electronic journalism, received second place in the Sports Play-By-Play category for Women's Basketball: K-State vs. Penn State.

From Greater Kansas City: Leawood: in undergraduate radio Joyce Jennings, senior in electronic journalism, received a first for the Nov. 6, 2002, KSDB newscast in the complete newscast category. Ryan Shulz, sophomore in pre-professional business administration, received a first place for "Sports Talk" in the entertainment program category. Sarah Holladay, senior in electronic journalism, received a first for the Nov. 6, 2002, KSDB newscast in the complete newscast category, and honorable mention for the Student Elections Coverage Series in the public affairs program category. In undergraduate radio, Jennifer Sherry, Lenexa, graduated senior in mass communications, placed first in the documentary category with "Hip-hop-u-mentary." Jon Krasnoff, Overland Park, senior in mass communications and pre-law, and Orion Online, placed second in the station Web site category for the KSDB Web site, http://www.wildcatradio.ksu.edu.

In undergraduate radio, Brandon Utech, Lyons, senior in electronic journalism and public relations, received a first place for "Project 91.9 Image" in the station promotion announcement category. As a television intern, Stefanie Howard, Olathe, senior in electronic journalism and elementary education, received a first for "Great Overland Station" in the complete news feature category.

In undergraduate radio, Maggie Grusznis Harvey, Pratt, senior in human ecology and mass communications, received first in the complete news feature category for "Final Days of KKSU."

Cassidy Hill, Topeka, senior in electronic journalism and public relations, received a first place for the Nov. 6, 2002, KSDB radio newscast in the complete newscast category. She also received honorable mention in the complete newscast category for Wildcat 91.9 5 p.m. News.

LaFayette Childs II, Wichita, senior in interdisciplinary humanities, interdisciplinary social sciences and international studies, received a first for his "Interview with Mimi Wesson" in the public affairs program category.

Clint Bradbury, Winfield, junior in mass communications and business, took second place for "Women's Basketball: K-State vs. Penn State" in the sports play-by-play category.

Matt Pauley, St. Louis, Mo., sophomore in pre-journalism, placed first in the undergraduate entertainment program category for "Sports Talk." He also won two honorable mentions -- one as a radio intern at KFNS Radio 910 AM for complete sports feature, and a second for a sports report.

Prepared by Candace L. T. Walton & Cheryl May at Kansas State University