BHS Radio Students Win Awards in National Competition

Seven students involved in the Bloomfield Hills Schools radio broadcasting program were named finalists at the Ninth Annual John Drury High School Radio Awards ceremony last month in Illinois. And Andover High School students Cameron Billes and Eric Bloom won first place for having the best public service announcement.

Seven students finished in the final five in five award categories:

• Best PSA, First Place: Cameron Billes (Andover senior) and Eric Bloom (Andover junior)
• Best PSA, Finalist: Paul Stewart (Andover senior) and Zac Barnett (Andover senior)
• Best Radio Drama- Original, Finalist: Bobby Brandon (Lahser senior) and Jeremy Fishman (Andover senior)
• Best Sportstalk Program, Finalist: Cameron Billes (Andover senior) and Jeremy Fishman (Andover senior)
• Best Sportscast, Finalist: Alexander Madias (Andover junior)

The students and WBFH Station Manager Pete Bowers were part of special ceremony on Nov. 19 at North Central College in Naperville, Ill.

Bowers, an Andover alumnus and long-time station manager, was named best radio station advisor. He also won the award in 2005, and is the only advisor in the country to earn that distinction twice, a district news release stated.

"I congratulate all the winners and nominees," said Bowers. "I also would like to thank the students who wrote letters of recommendation for the Best Advisor Award:  Justin Lopas, Paul Stewart, Zac Barnett, and Kenny Selander."

WBFH, also known as The BiFF, is a non-commercial, educational radio station broadcasting at 88.1 on the FM dial and online at www.wbfh.fm<http://www.wbfh.fm/>.

The John Drury High School Radio Awards recognize excellence in high school radio broadcasting, and were named in honor of award-winning ABC-Chicago news anchor, John Drury. The awards were presented by North Central College and their student radio station WONC-FM.