February 17, 2025

By Kaitlyn Wagner ’27

Susquehanna University’s radio station, WQSU The Pulse, capped a successful year by winning two Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Excellence in Broadcasting awards, competing against radio stations both commercial and non-commercial from across the state.

This brings WQSU’s PAB awards count to 14 in the past seven years. Susquehanna will receive the awards in April at a luncheon ceremony in Harrisburg.

WQSU won the following awards:

• Outstanding Radio Station Sponsored Event for the Downtown Selinsgrove Tree Lighting Ceremony. WQSU worked with the Selinsgrove Area Chamber of Commerce to host a night of community, lights and cheer. This program was produced by Rebecca Wood ’24 of Dover, New Jersey; Lillian Mandalas ’27 of Dover, Delaware; and general manager Dawn Benfer. This is Wood’s second PAB award.
• Judges’ Merit award for the multi-platform broadcast of a Susquehanna football playoff game. This program was produced by Jaxson Purnell ’25, of Catawissa, Pennsylvania; Matt Vargo ’24, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Harrison Karsch ’27, of Oreland, Pennsylvania. This is both Purnell’s and Vargo’s second PAB award.

WQSU is the largest student-run radio station in Pennsylvania, serving approximately one-third of the state. It is supervised by Susquehanna’s Department of Communications and run by Susquehanna students and faculty members as well as community volunteers. The radio station was created to serve the public interest, educate Susquehanna students in various types of broadcasting operations and to serve as a media outlet for Susquehanna University.