Eugene Area Radio Stations Awards 2023 Scholarships
September 19, 2023
NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eugene Area Radio Stations Awards Scholarships
Eugene Area Radio Stations – EARS – a non-profit trade association comprised of 22 Eugene area radio stations recently awarded $11,000 in scholarships to students in Oregon. Its goal is to support students pursuing a radio career through post-secondary education.
Seven (7) students were selected by EARS to receive 2023-2024 academic year scholarships, because of the student’s strong academic qualifications, current/past work at student run radio stations, community service, and their interests in a professional radio career.
The EARS scholarship program selects one graduating high school student and one college undergraduate student, to each receive $3,000 scholarships. Because of the strong field of applicants, EARS also selected five additional candidates to receive $500 to $2,000 scholarships.
These EARS Scholarship Awardees include Ryan Oppenheimer, Carter Stedman, GeAnna Vinsant, Emma Uhlhorn, Christian Sanchez, Jack Wargo, and Jaedan Neuman.
$3,000 College Under-Graduate Scholarship: Ryan Oppenheimer, a University of Oregon student from Eugene, Oregon, with a UO undergraduate GPA of 3.70. Ryan Oppenheimer will be a Junior at the University of Oregon this Fall, majoring in a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. In addition to his school requirements, he works at UO student-run KWVA 88.1, where he participates in weekly sports talk shows and broadcasts. He also covers sports for the KWVA Sports Twitter page and creates audio summaries of sports events. EARS is pleased to support Ryan Oppenheimer as he continues to develop his radio career in the Eugene-Springfield market.
$3,000 High School Graduate Scholarship: Carter Stedman, Roseburg High School graduate, Roseburg, Oregon, with a 3.9 GPA. This Fall term, he will be a freshman at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. Stedman is Chief Sports Editor for the Roseburg High School newspaper and has been recognized with the 2022 Excellence Award in Sports Radio & Student Media for his “Talking the Game” podcast. He interns at the local sports radio “1490 The Score”, producing “Carter’s Corner” and hosting weekly interviews with Douglas County athletes. Carter Stedman has been active in community outreach and youth sports counseling. He will be attending college as a member of the school’s Track & Field and Cross-Country team.
$2,000 High School Graduate Scholarship: GeAnna Vinsant, graduate from Junction City High School with a 3.3 GPA. She will be attending Oregon State University this Fall with an academic goal to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Production. Vinsant plans to volunteer at KBVR, the OSU campus radio station. She has extensive experience in school music programs, including running the school’s band as the student band director for a year while the school was without a band teacher. Vinsant was the school’s sound and light technician the past year, including setting up and take down of sound and lighting equipment for a variety of events and programs. Her career goals include becoming a content producer at radio stations. Vinsant is also an Emergency Medical Responder.
$1,000 High School Graduate Scholarship: Jordan (Emma) Uhlhorn, graduate from South Eugene High School. Jordan is attending the City College of New York this Fall to pursue studies in broadcasting. Uhlhorn wants to produce radio programming to promote the music industry and learn about the engineering side of the business. Though growing up with a love of sports, she is now pursuing a career in music and the arts. Uhlhorn is a kind, creative, and determined person who will be a valuable asset to the broadcasting industry.
$1,000 College Under-Graduate Scholarship: Christian Sanchez will be a senior this Fall at Oregon State University in Corvallis with an undergraduate GPA of 2.91. Sanchez is a Marine Corps veteran seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture. While at OSU, he volunteers at KBVR radio station producing 2-hour, weekly Motown-focused programming with the air name “DJ Mellow Fellow”. While Sanchez’s primary career goal is to have a small, organic farm, the selection committee felt that Sanchez’s positive attitude, determination, and discipline would provide an ideal foundation if he should decide to return to a career in radio.
$500 High School Graduate Scholarship: Jack Wargo graduated from Springfield High School with a 3.6 GPA and will attend the University of Oregon this Fall. He is seeking a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and journalism. Wargo has been both an athlete and sports/news writer. He plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.
$500 High School Graduate Scholarship: Jaedan Neumann graduated from Sheldon High School in Eugene with a 3.6 GPA and volunteered in his senior year with student-run KRVM 91.9. He will attend Oregon State University this Fall with a focus on business management and finance. Neumann hopes to own and manage a successful company.
Total investment by the Eugene Area Radio Stations in the EARS 2023 Scholarship program is $11,000 in awards. Applications for the Fall 2024 school year scholarship program will be accepted starting January 2024 and will close May 1, 2024.
A career in radio broadcasting is fun, challenging, and provides the foundation for a lifetime of community involvement. Radio is alive and growing despite the introduction of digitally delivered audio. In Lane County over 250,000 adults listen on average 14 hours a week to free, over-the-air radio.
Eugene Area Radio Stations – EARS - is a 501(6)(C) non-profit trade association comprised of 22 commercial and public radio stations in the Eugene/Springfield/Cottage Grove/Junction City market area. Its scholarship program has awarded over $100,000 to qualifying students over the past decade. Many of the recipients have active careers in radio broadcasting.
For more information:
Peter Powell, Executive Director
ears.peter@eugeneradio.org
Cell: 541-729-2689
Mail: 24700 Norris Road
Junction City, OR 97448