WGLS honored at awards

Rachel Zouvelekis
The Whit, 11/29/07 

Rowan Radio, 89.7 WGLS-FM, recently took home four first-place awards from a regional competition. Philadelphia Achievement in Radio (AIR) College Awards, which is sponsored by the March of Dimes, is a premier event that honors excellence in college radio annually.

The WGLS winners include Nicole Chiaravalloti, Julia Giacoboni, Erica Guidetti, Stephen Maiorana, Pat Moynahan, Jess Ortuso and James Vassallo. Senior radio televison and film major Jess Ortuso, of Howell, won Best College Radio Commercial for her promo of the grand opening of the "Rocky Balboa" movie at the Broadway Theatre in Pitman. Also co-director of promotions at WGLS, Ortuso was shocked when she won because she was up against 11 other people in the category.

"I was proud of the fact that we could stand up there all together, being the college that went home with the most awards that day, and represent Rowan students in a positive light," says Ortuso.

Other awards won include a first-place tie for Best College Radio News or Public Affairs Anchor/Host by Julia Giacoboni, Stephen Maiorana, Erica Guidetti and Nicole Chiaravalloti. Since Giacoboni is not a news anchor and Maiorana, Guidetti and Chiaravolloti are not public affairs anchors, the award was listed as two different first-place awards.

"All of the winners are great at what they do, and I'm just happy that the AIR awards help to demonstrate the dedication they put into their work," Maiorana says.

Giacoboni, from Cedarville, is a Rowan junior and Public Affairs Director at WGLS. Maiorana, a resident of Sewell, is a senior at Rowan and News Director at WGLS. Guidetti, who lives in Glenolden, Pa., and Chiaravalloti, of Pine Hill, both earned their bachelor's degrees from Rowan in May. Maiorana, Guidetti, and Chiaravolloti were named Best College Radio News Anchors/Hosts for "The Rowan Report," the weekly news magazine on WGLS.

"Everyone works so hard on their projects for the station so it is nice to see our work recognized," says Guidetti.

James Vassallo, a senior from Marlton, and Pat Moynahan, of Cinnaminson, won for Best College Radio Sports Play-by-Play Announcer/Host for their broadcast of the Camden Riversharks game versus the Road Warriors.

"The station really makes a concerted effort to be the best in the region and it shows when we win awards such as the ones we won at the air awards," said Vassallo.

Since 1993, WGLS has won 129 national and regional awards.

The awards ceremony took place on Nov. 1 at Philadelphia Hilton City Avenue. The banquet had many well-known names in Philadelphia radio including the honored guest, John DeBella of WMGK.

Judges at the event ranked each entry on a 1-to-10 scale in the following areas of assessment: creativity, delivery, detail, clarity, originality, production values, overall presentation and overall professionalism.

"WGLS has been so instrumental to my college experience, it's nice to know that I can give back with the award and leave my name on the WGLS wall for years to come. It's kind of me leaving my mark there," says Ortuso.

The event, while honoring outstanding achievements, also raises thousands of dollars for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the March of Dimes. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the lives of babies by preventing birth defects, prematurity, and infant mortality. Funds raised for the March of Dimes at the Philadelphia AIR Awards totaled over $75,000.