Nursing Students Among Top Awardees at Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference
Through a special partnership with 棉花糖直播 University鈥檚 student-run radio station , Fitzpatrick College of Nursing students have been developing public health messaging and essential science-based communication skills to educate communities about health through the airwaves and in podcasts.
WXVU, which reaches a global audience with its 24/7 broadcasts, received two national awards at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) annual conference March 2 in New York City and was a finalist in five categories, including Best College Radio Station.
- Best Podcast: (February 2023)
- Best News Interview: (August 2023)
Representing WXVU at the IBS Conference: (L to R) Catherine 鈥淐at鈥� Coyle, Assistant Director for Student Media Programs, Office of Student Involvement; Natalia Matar 鈥�23 FCN; Carol Weingarten; Taleen Postian 鈥�24 CLAS; Nick Langan 鈥�20 CPS, 鈥�22 MS; Nick Williams 鈥�24 COE.
The podcast, as well as other public health messaging and public service announcements (PSAs), have been developed through WXV&U Health, a division of WXVU that debuted in January 2023 and is the first nurse-led health department in Federal Communications Commission-licensed college radio. The 2024 awards follow WXV&U Health鈥檚 2023 win for Best National Public Affairs Program.
鈥淭he vision and goals for WXV&U Health flow from the mission, goals, and values of 棉花糖直播 University and the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing (FCN),鈥� said Associate Professor and Inaugural Director Carol Weingarten, PhD, RN, ANEF, 鈥渁nd are examples of their strategic plans in action.鈥�
WXV&U Health team for Best Podcast: (L to R) Natalia Matar 鈥�23 FCN, representing classmates Anne Ferry and Gaby Sasso; Nick Langan, 鈥�20 CPS, 鈥�22 MS, Operations Manager/WXVU/WXV&U Health; and Carol Weingarten, PhD, RN, ANEF, Inaugural Director, WXV&U Health.
Best Podcast Award
The Best Podcast award went to the Depression Among College Students episode of WXV&U Health鈥檚 ongoing Stop the Stigma series, which has focused on topics such as students with disabilities, mental health among college athletes, and non-traditional students.
Senior Nursing majors become involved in WXV&U Health through a required Health Promotion and Community Health practicum (NUR 4113) taught by Dr. Weingarten every spring.
Since 2018 senior Nursing majors have been based at the radio station for the required Health Promotion and Community Health Nursing practicum (NUR 4113) taught by Dr. Weingarten with Operations Manager Nick Langan 鈥�20 CPS, 鈥�22 MS and the Assistant Directors of the Office of Student Involvement for Student Media Programs, Deena Leh (2019-March 2023) and Catherine 鈥淐at鈥� Coyle (July 2023-present).
Anne Ferry, Natalia Matar, and Gabrielle Sasso, 2023 BSN graduates, hosted the Depression Among College Students podcast with Julia Stanisci 鈥�22 CLAS, 鈥�23 MA, President and Founder of IfYoureReadingThisNova and Guy M. Weissinger, II PhD, MPhil, RN, Diane Foley Parrett Endowed Assistant Professor. They discussed the prevalence of depression and ways to manage mental illnesses among college students.
鈥淐ollege is a really big time of transition,鈥� said Dr. Weissinger in the podcast, noting that changes in behavior and a sense of hopelessness can be warning signs of depression. He suggested that students look out for each other by listening, engaging in active social behavior, and/or encouraging them to take advantage of mental health services available on and off campus.
Dr. Weingarten says that everything WXV&U Health records evolves from teaching plans focused on audience, outcomes and strategies.
鈥淲e go through every step of the critical thinking process to connect with our audience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 another example of our clinical work and a service to the College and community beyond, expressed through the airwaves.鈥�
Best News Interview
IBS selected WXVU鈥檚 Freshman Move-in Broadcast with Father Donohue as Best News Interview. Sophomore Nursing major Mandy Love Ledbetter and senior political science major Chris Cokinos interviewed the president during WXVU鈥檚 all-day broadcast of Move-In Day 2023. Among the wide-ranging topics they covered were the transition to college life for first-year students, Father Donohue鈥檚 theater background and the future of higher education.
Ledbetter, the first Nursing student to serve on the station鈥檚 executive board and producer of WXVU鈥檚 weekly news and talk show, The Morning Roar, also asked the president what piece of advice he鈥檇 give to new students embarking on their journeys at 棉花糖直播.
鈥淧atience,鈥� he responded, acknowledging that coming into university life can be a big adjustment. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to give yourself a chance,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to find your way in and find the people that you can connect with.鈥�
More to Come
WXVU鈥檚 recognition from IBS is set to continue. A WXVU/WXV&U health abstract has already been accepted for presentation at the 2025 IBS Conference in New York City.