What is WVOE?

WVOE 97.7 FM is the campus radio station of Northwestern College, St. Paul, MN. WVOE broadcasts from the first floor of the Mel Johnson Media Center located just south of campus.  In this case, "broadcasting" would be a strong term since the WVOE signal barely covers the campus dorms, so WVOE streams over the internet.

WVOE is a free-form, alternative Christian music college radio station that breaks free from any one format.  We play local Minneapolis/St. Paul area artists such as Bensonwells, In Harbour, Tyler Burkum, Weaver At The Loom, Caitlyn Smith, Hyland, and others.  We regularly play national artists like Anberlin, MuteMath, Paramore, Mae, Mat Kearney, Switchfoot, Copeland, House of Heroes, The Myriad, Sleeping At Last, Falling Up, Relient K, Jon McGlaughlin, and The Rocket Summer, to name a few.  WVOE:  free-form, alternative Christian music college radio.

Overview

“Write the Vision; make it plain on tablets, so he who reads it may run”
Habakkuk 2:2

So, what is the purpose of WVOE? What does the station and staff value?

Well, it’s to learn about radio, maybe learn a little about music, build some relationships, and have some fun but ultimately it’s about Christ.  All things are from him, through him and to him (Romans 11:34-36).

WVOE's signal maybe weak but it strives to be strong though the power of Christ. The faculty advisor challenges them with the question, "How is your approach to your radio show any different from a 100-thousand watt station? Your strength is not in your station's signal or reach. It's ultimately in your heart. So, how can you truly glorify God with your show?"

The students of WVOE look for innovative ways to minister to other students and impact the community around Northwestern College. A few of the events that WVOE Students have been a part of are:

• Raising Christmas gifts to be sold at discount to under-privileged families as well as monetary donations for Christmas with Dignity
• Participating in Operation Christmas Child
• Organizing NWC students to create food packages for the organization “Feed My Starving Children”.
• Actively participating in NWC events such as new student orientation, homecoming, alumni week, student center functions, and concerts.

WVOE is emerging as a national leader. Associated Press tapped students to provide news coverage from the annual Dove Awards. When Dr. James Dobson was in the Twin Cities area and needed an emergency studio to record his Focus on the Family radio program, producers contacted WVOE to produce the remote broadcast!  Since 2003, WVOE radio students have won more than 40 national and regional awards from the NRB, National Association of Broadcasters/BEA and the Minnesota Broadcaster Association. In the last two years, students have won half of the student radio awards offered from the iNRB. Students have joined KTIS (and Dan Wynia) to help training seminars for radio stations in Belize. Many of the students involved in all of these activities are now impacting their communities at media outlets all across the country including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, North Carolina, and California.

WVOE brings an opportunity for the students to begin their media career. Students are encouraged to share their lives with others in intimate and vulnerable ways and approach programming with a spirit of hope. They look for avenues to share what Christ is revealing about Himself in daily student life.