KWDM

KWDM, "88.7 KWDM The Point," is a modern rock high school radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa area on 88.7 FM. The radio station's studio is located at Valley High School in West Des Moines. It is owned and operated by the West Des Moines Community School District and is operated by students at Valley under the direction of a staff advisor.

88.7 KWDM The Point
CityWest Des Moines, Iowa
Frequency88.7 (MHz)
Branding88.7 KWDM The Point
SloganDes Moines' #1 Modern Rock Station
Programming
FormatModern Rock/Alternative
Ownership
OwnerWest Des Moines Community School District
History
First air date
October 1, 1976
Call sign meaning
West Des Moines
Technical information
ClassA
ERP100 watts
Links
Website887kwdm.wix.com/kwdm-the-point

History

On October 1, 1976, the West Des Moines Community School District signed KWDM on the air at 88.9 MHz.[1] The KWDM call letters had previously been used on two commercial stations in Des Moines, 1150 AM (now KWKY) and 93.3 FM (now KIOA), under the ownership of George Webber. In 1994, KWDM's frequency was migrated from 88.9 FM to 88.7 FM and its power increased from 10 watts ERP to 100 watts. The station is one of two high school radio stations in Iowa, the other being KDPS operated by Des Moines Public Schools.

Programming

KWDM's student staff dictate what format the station will play. Students have the option to change the format at the beginning of any school year. In the late 1970s and through much of the 1980s, the station played a free-form format where the on-air jock played the music of their choice. In the early 1990s, the station was a strictly classic rock format. In 1993, the station began playing the popular Alternative or Modern Rock format. In 1999, KWDM began to experiment with a switch to CHR/Top 40 music. The move was abandoned after IHeartMedia, Inc. owned KKDM switched formats from Alternative to Top 40. The station continues to play the Modern Rock format today.

Student management

One of KWDM's hallmarks is its student management. While a faculty advisor oversees operations and is responsible for regulatory and engineering issues, students are predominantly responsible for the station's programming and music selection. One student (In most cases) is selected each year through a competitive application process to serve as station manager.

School Year Student Station Manager(s) Faculty Advisor Station Identity
1976-1977: George Oliver Greg Franck 88.9 KWDM
1987-1988: Howie Hoffman Lil McDonald 88.9 KWDM
1988-1989: Rob Lettington Lil McDonald 88.9 KWDM
1989-1990: Ryan Burger Lil McDonald 88.9 KWDM "Tiger 89, the Hot FM"
1990-1991: N/A (Five Production Directors instead of one Station Manager) Lil McDonald 88.9 KWDM
1991-1992: Damond Fudge Lil McDonald 88.9 KWDM
1992-1993: Bryan Romig Brian Christensen "Power 89"
1993-1994: Chris Wulf Brian Christensen "Power 89"
1994-1995: T.G. Stouffer Brian Christensen 88.7 KWDM "Your Only Alternative"
1995-1996: Jeremy Bingaman Brian Christensen 88.7 KWDM "Des Moines' Only Alternative"
1996-1997: Brian Gongol Brian Christensen "New Rock 88.7"
1997-1998: Marianne Coppock Brian Christensen "New Rock 88.7" KWDM "The Source"
1998-1999: Justin Schoen Brian Christensen "New Rock 88.7" KWDM "The Source"
1999-2000: Jesse Hoffman Brian Christensen "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2000-2001: Tonya Garner Brian Christensen "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2001-2002: Nicole Faust Brian Christensen "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2002-2003: Joe Quinn/Jason Loe Brian Christensen "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2003-2004: MacKenzie Carey / Kate Maletta Brian Christensen "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2004-2005: Ryan Snider/Jeff Edwards Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2005-2006: Hannah Korpela/Alex Salem Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2006-2007: Lauren Mease/Cole Cheney Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2007-2008: Joanna McNurlen Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2008-2009: Ryan Mueksch/Jillian Shkolnick Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2009-2010: Jillian Shkolnick/John Menken Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2010-2011: Jacob Menken/Nailah Bakari Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2012-2013 Dylan DeClerk/Joe Eilers Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2013-2014 Taylor Mankle Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2014-2015 Ben Swanson Janell Mikels "88.7 KWDM The Point"
2015-2016 Ben Berry (AKA Ben DeCastro) Janell Mikels

KWDM alums in broadcasting

In the more than 30 years that the West Des Moines School District has owned KWDM, many of the station's alumni have gone on to careers in the radio and television industry.

Student Years on KWDM Current Station Position
Bill Oliver 1976–1977 Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan/College Station TX News Director
Joe Ditzel 1976–1978 VastMediaEmpire.com, Los Angeles, CA Owner/ CEO (formerly worked at NBC-TV)
Alan Kline 1977–1978 KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA Engineer
Dave Smiley 1987–1990 WZPL-FM, Indianapolis, IN "The Smiley Morning Show"
Greg Chance 1987–1990 KKDM-FM, Des Moines, IA iHeart Media Regional Program Manager for Iowa/Operations Manager (has since left the station)
Brian Allen 1987–1991 KSFY-TV, Sioux Falls, SD News Anchor
Jeremy Bingaman 1992–1996 KIOA-FM Des Moines, IA Morning Show Host (Known as "Luke Matthews")
Chad Rufer 1992–1996 Bonneville_International, Sacramento, CA Vice President of Programming
Brian Gongol 1993–1997 WHO (AM), Des Moines, IA "The Brian Gongol Show," "WHO Radio Wise Guys" (has since left the station)
Marianne Coppock 1994–1998 KSTZ-FM, Des Moines, IA On-Air Swing (has since left station)
Brian Stark 1994–1998 Starz Entertainment, Englewood, Colorado Media Systems Administrator
Leigh McNabb 1995–1999 KIOA-FM, Des Moines, IA Program Director, Midday host
Karsten Lunde 1998-1999 KSQY-FM, Haugo Broadcasting, Rapid City, SD Assistant Program Director/Afternoons, 95.1 K-SKY
Brett Wolf 1996–2000 KAZR, Des Moines, IA Weekend Swing (known as Cage)
Ashley Hinson 1998–2001 KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids, IA Morning and Midday News Anchor (Has since left station)
Nicole Faust 1999–2002 Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, IA Director of Interactive Media
Joe Quinn 2000-2003 KXSP, Omaha, NE Co-Host, "The Drive"
Sarah Moritz-Heuertz 2001–2004 KAZR, Des Moines, IA Weekends, (known as Sarah Greene)
Nick Ratcliff 2003–2006 KSTZ-FM, Des Moines, IA Weekends (has since left station)
Thomas Matysik 2005–2008 Bullseye with Jesse Thorn, History Made Up Radio and Podcast Producer

Current Shows and Information

Current broadcasts expected to change due to seniors leaving.

The Morning Show: News, Weather, Traffic and a great way to start any morning on the way to work or school.

The Mankle in the Morning Show: Daily sit down with the station manager Taylor Mankle full of interactive fan requests and music.

The Spread: A Variety Show of sorts as prominent voices of the point shine through in a more musical light as improve song are made on the spot along with covers for the enjoyment of listeners. Lead by Taylor Mankle, along with Jacob White, Henry Parizek, and Nick Cesario.

Tiger Talk: A group discussion before every Valley Football game with guest callers, predictions, stats and much more. Lead by Jack Rodgers, Jeff Goetz, Jake Goetz, Logan Bylie, and Ben Swanson.

Football Games: Most VHS football games are broadcast live on air with play-by-play announcer Taylor Mankle and color announcers Nick Cesario and Ben Swanson.

Basketball Games: All VHS basketball home games are broadcast live by play-by-play announcer Taylor Mankle.

Half Time Show: If booked, local bands perform live in the studio for both football and basketball half time shows.

References
  1. Warren, Kirby (February 13, 1977). "Students run their own radio station". Des Moines Register. pp. 1-TV, 3-TV. Retrieved October 28, 2019.

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