College Radio Day closed out with an unprecedented event: freshman broadcasting major Walker Polivka hosted a 24-hour marathon over the air. The event kicked off at 5:00 PM Thursday, November 3 and ended at 5:00 PM Friday, November 4. The event was planned out and included many different moving parts. Walker was able to line up interviews with many local and national personalities.
The interviews included:
West Virginia House of Delegates member Erikka Storch
Playwright John Hardy
105.5 FM DJ Johnny O
Voice of the Wheeling Nailers DJ Abisalih
Former MLB player and coach Rich Donnelly
West Liberty University President Stephen Greiner
Former WGLZ staff member John Nowak
Professor Christian Lee, who helped create the station
Former West Liberty University President Clyde Campbell
Former WTRF anchor Mike Anthony
1600 AM DJ Steve Novotney
WVU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bob Huggins
Professor and actor Butch Maxwell
WTRF anchor Tate Blanchard
Former Wheeling mayor Andy Mckenzie
Attorney, former West Virginia Senator and former State Minority Leader Jeff Kessler
Radio DJ Chris Booker
Former West Liberty University professor John Matviko
Professor and Department Chair Brian Fencl
Responses from Governor candidates Jim Justice and Bill Cole
Walker also collected many prizes from local businesses to give away during the course of the festivities. He also took sponsorships from local businesses for each hour of programming and raised $1650 for charity, which was split between the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Wheeling Soup Kitchen. Widely considered to be the most successful College Radio Day in WGLZ history, WGLZ was able to reach many new listeners and will continue to grow along with College Radio Day.