Following the passing of a bill requiring Impact 89FM to undergo an audit, the station’s general manager Ed Glazer said the recognition could not have come at a better time.

“It’s been an interesting year with all the political stuff,” Glazer said. “It’s nice to have external recognition. We’re still doing a lot of work that is making us a name on the national stage.”

More than 20 schools across the United States were nominated for the award. To move onto the next round of the competition, Impact 89FM must receive a top number of votes on mtvU’s website.

“They pick the top-10 vote-getters from the 23 nominees,” Glazer said. “Our big student population helps us out with that.”

Abbie Newton, the director for Exposure talk show, said the nomination brings needed positivity to the workplace.

“When I heard, I was really excited and a little shocked,” Newton said. “In the midst of what’s happening, it’s a nice bright light for us.”

If the station advances to the second round, another vote will be taken. The winning station then will attend the mtvU Woodie Awards in Houston, which airs on MTV March 17.

“I hope that happens,” Newton said. “After all the work people put into it, it would be nice to get that recognition.”

But for Glazer, it’s about more than just the award. In the grander scheme of things, he said it’s about providing experience to students outside of the classroom.

“The students that are involved in the station are doing really top-caliber work, the kind of work that not only gets us recognition, but helps get them jobs when they graduate,” he said. “The experience we’re giving our students really is paying off.”

Media arts and technology senior Kress O’Leary said Impact 89FM also has an integral student connection.

“They have a lot of involvement with the school, and it’s a great way to build a résumé,” O’Leary said.

In the future, Glazer said the station will take steps to further its marketability and student reach, such as creating a performance space in Hubbard Hall and using podcasts to attract listeners.

“I hope to see us expand in being able to offer more hands-on training in a variety of areas,” he said. “Podcasting is becoming a burgeoning activity that can produce income, like a new form of radio.”