🎙️ On the Air! St. Mary's Students Broadcast Live from Historic WJOB Radio

Members of St. Mary’s School’s WSMW Broadcasting Club, recently had the exciting opportunity to visit the historic radio station WJOB in Hammond, Indiana. Accompanied by school principal, Mr. Ruiz and club moderator, Miss Burbach, ten eighth-grade WSMW students toured the station, learned about the world of professional broadcasting, and even had the chance to appear live on both the radio and the station’s YouTube broadcast.

WJOB has been a staple of Northwest Indiana broadcasting for generations. The station traces its roots to the early 1940s and has spent decades serving the Hammond community with local news, sports coverage, talk shows, and community programming. Throughout its history, WJOB has featured countless local personalities and programs that have connected listeners across the Region for more than 80 years.

During the visit, students were given a behind-the-scenes look at how radio broadcasts are produced and how live programming is managed throughout the day. They learned about the station’s many talk shows and community programs that continue to reach listeners across Northwest Indiana and the greater Chicagoland area. The experience provided students with an authentic glimpse into the responsibilities, preparation, and creativity involved in broadcasting and media communications.

One of the highlights of the trip was the opportunity for each student to speak live on the air and participate in the station’s YouTube livestream. For many, it was their first experience inside a professional radio studio and a memorable chance to practice the communication skills they have been developing through WSMW.

The visit also served as inspiration for St. Mary’s growing WSMW Broadcasting Club. Similar to WJOB’s commitment to community storytelling and communication, WSMW provides students with opportunities to build confidence, strengthen public speaking abilities, develop teamwork skills, and gain experience in media production through school announcements and broadcasting activities.

St. Mary’s School is grateful to owner, Jim Dedelow and the staff at WJOB for warmly welcoming our students and providing such an engaging educational experience. Opportunities like these help students connect classroom learning with real-world careers while highlighting the important role that local media and community broadcasting continue to play in our communities.

Front row: Sean Johansson, Regina Andras, Lorelei Borozan, Brinna Bordui, Karsen Martin, and Valerie Burbach 

2nd row: Genevieve Abad, Bethany Cox, Margaret Cappas, DeSean Torres, and Ava Grace Licupa-Pineda

Bethany Cox, Genevieve Abad, Ava Grace Licupa-Pineda, Margaret Cappas, DeSean Torres, and Adrianna Alvarez

Sean Johansson, Regina Andras, Lorelei Borozan, Brinna Bordui, Karsen Martin, and Adrianna Alvarez

Producer Joe, Ava Grace Licupa-Pineda, Bethany Cox, Genevieve Abad, Margaret Cappas, and DeSean Torres

St. Mary Catholic Community School in Crown Point offers grade levels Junior Pre-Kindergarten (for three-year-olds) through grade eight.  Students in all grades are provided with opportunities for fun projects and activities to make learning interesting and relevant.  To learn more about St. Mary’s School visit school.stmarycp.org or call 663-0676 to request a tour.