Gannon University hosted a live radio broadcast from Waldron Campus Center on Oct. 26, to raise money for WQLN, public radio and television broadcasting’s affiliate in western Pennsylvania.
The broadcast was part of a fundraising effort that WQLN hosts each year called the “WQLN Collegiate Challenge.” Local colleges and universities compete to see which school can raise the most money, as well as enroll the highest number of members among alumni and friends.
In addition to Gannon, the schools competing for top spot included Allegheny College, Edinboro and Mercyhurst universities and Penn State Behrend.
Students were on-hand in the Waldron Campus Center to accept donations in person, as well as answer phone calls from people wishing to donate.
Katelyn Gourley, a sophomore criminal justice and information systems major, was one of the students taking calls. She said she volunteered to help with the event because some of her co-workers in the marketing and communications department had agreed to sign up for the event together.
“Working with the awesome WQLN staff and some guys from one of the fraternities on campus were the best parts,” Gourley said.
Gourley also believes it is important for organizations such as WQLN to exist because they provide quality content for their listeners.
“I personally like public broadcasting,” Gourley said. “I love to listen to what’s going on in the world on my drive to and from school and listen to some good music since life gets so hectic.”
The WQLN Collegiate Challenge officially concluded on Friday, after broadcasting live from Edinboro University.
Two trophies were awarded at the end of the competition: one for the top school and one for most improved school from last year’s campaign. Edinboro University took home both trophies.
Gannon raised $8,193 during the competition, which is 97 percent of last year’s total.
Gretchen Fairley, the director of service learning at Gannon, said that she has listened to NPR since she was 15 years old and donates to the local NPR and PBS stations each year.
“I think that public radio provides some of the best news coverage in the U.S., with more in-depth, investigative stories, and often a variety that improves my own knowledge as a citizen, an educator and just as a curious lifelong learner and human being,” Fairley said.
Although the competition is over, supporters of WQLN can still donate. The goal of the fall fundraising campaign is to raise $100,000 for WQLN and the drive will finish once that goal is met.
Those who wish to contribute to the WQLN fall fundraising campaign can do so at www.wqln.org.
LYDIA FENNESSY
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