The 2024 Nebraska Broadcasters Association Convention proved to be a rewarding one for Eagle radio stations in Alliance, Chadron and North Platte. During the event's Pinnacle Awards banquet, three awards were received by Eagle employees.
Double Q Country Sports Director and "voice of the CSC Eagles" Dave Collins received the Gold Award in the "Best Sports Play-By-Play" category. Collins, who has won several NBA awards for his sports broadcasting efforts, travels with Chadron State Eagle teams throughout the year to bring games to radio listeners all over Nebraska. Collins met his wife Shaunda in Chadron where she is a Full Professor in the Communications Department at CSC. They enjoy spending time with their infant son Braylon, traveling all over the country, running half-marathon races and attending games together in new stadiums.
Also receiving a gold award Wednesday night (his 10th NBA award overall) was Eagle Radio Alliance/Chadron Director Of Creative Services Jason Wentworth. "Wenty " took home the Gold for "Best Promotional Announcement." Joining Wentworth in the production of the winning "Jingle Cash promo" was Kalin Krohe; the two have been creative partners for years. "Kalin brings his sense of humor, vocal variety and improvisational skill to all of our commercial projects. I couldn't do it without him!" Wentworth, who has been at KCOW for 26 years, celebrates 2024 as the 25th anniversary of his KCOW morning show.
Last, but not least, North Platte Marketing Consultant Carla Beck received a Bronze award in the highly competitive "Best Commercial" category. Her commercial for Axes and Aces was titled "The Big Game."
It should be noted that unlike some state broadcasting associations, where awards are split up among "small market", "medium market" and "large market" stations--assuring a greater likelihood of an entry winning--the Nebraska Broadcasters Association votes for all entries equally. This means the three winning entries above managed to defeat some of the largest, most powerful radio stations in Omaha, Lincoln, and other large city stations.