MOUNT VERNON — WNZR 90.9 FM, a broadcast ministry of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, has been named University Station of the Year by Christian Music Broadcasters for the second time in four years.
The honor was presented during the annual Momentum conference last week.
Founded in 1986, WNZR has served Knox County as both a community ministry and a training ground for students pursuing careers in broadcast and digital media.
The station airs Christian music, local news and sports, and student-produced programming, with long-running shows including “The Morning Thing” and “The Afternoon Drive.”
Seven MVNU students collaborated on the award submission in March. Naomi Kinne, a graphic design major, and communication and media majors Ethan Hershberger, Daniel Russell, Xander DeVault, Josiah Pletcher, Olivia Skillings and Gabriella Stanley produced the materials that earned the station the honor.
Stations were evaluated by industry professionals on a rubric that assessed written summaries of their impact and community service during the 2025 academic year, 10 minutes of on-air performance audio, 10 minutes of imaging and production, and a two-minute video summarizing the station’s use of digital media.
“This recognition from CMB happened simply because our student leaders took the challenge of the award submission seriously,” said Joe Rinehart, communication program director and assistant professor.
“To win this award a second time reflects our program’s ongoing commitment to giving our students real opportunities and experiences with a community-focused radio station, and connections to industry professionals through CMB.”
Rinehart noted that university stations across the country are making meaningful contributions to their communities and ministries, making the recognition especially significant.
The award reflects WNZR’s dual mission of serving listeners while training the next generation of media professionals.
The station’s roots date to 1982, when MVNU received FCC approval to establish a Christian radio station at 90.9 FM. Four years later, WNZR officially signed on the air and has continued serving the region through music, local programming and ministry outreach.
Station Manager Marcy Rinehart, who has led WNZR for nearly three decades, said the award belongs to the full community behind the ministry.
“This award is a celebration of what God has done through WNZR and the incredible community that has supported this ministry for nearly four decades,” she said. “We share this honor with our listeners, donors, students, staff and ministry partners who have helped make WNZR a source of hope and encouragement throughout Knox County and beyond.
“As we prepare to celebrate our 40th anniversary on Oct. 1, our story can be summed up in three words: God did it.”
Students said the recognition affirmed both their professional development and their sense of calling.
“Winning CMB University Station of the Year is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the opportunities I have received at WNZR,” said Pletcher, sports director and co-host of “The Morning Thing.”
“This award motivates me to continue growing both personally and professionally as I prepare for my future career.”
DeVault, co-host of “The Morning Thing,” added, “This award serves as a testament, not to how great we are, but to how great He is. The honor is encouraging because it shows we are on the right track to fulfilling our mission of growing the kingdom of Christ.”
Skillings, the station’s director of listener engagement, said the honor reflects the station’s guiding scripture.
“Our Lifeline 2026 verse says, ‘Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory,’” she said. “It required hard work and dedication to earn, but it was through God’s guidance that we achieved it.”
Other CMB award recipients included Life 97.3 (KDNW) in Duluth, Minnesota, small market Station of the Year; 90.9 KLRC in Fayetteville, Arkansas, medium market; 104.9 The River (WCVO) in Columbus, Ohio, large market; and 89.3 KSBJ in Houston, major market. Faith Podcasts’ “The Unfolding” was named Radio Podcast of the Year.
John Mays received the Industry Achievement Award, KCBI in Dallas-Fort Worth earned the Community Service Award, recording artist Crowder received the Rich Mullins Artist Impact Award, and the CMB Board of Directors Award was presented to Johnny and Stacey Stone.
To learn more about WNZR and its ministry or to listen online, visit wnzr.fm.