Ella and Hazel are broadcasting the educational power of the Bay High Focus Program from their seats at a Lincoln radio station.
The two seniors are recording valuable career skills by hosting a two-hour program on KZUM. Their show “Groove Lagoon” airs at 10 p.m. every Wednesday and features a full lineup of music and conversation. They are making the most of a partnership between KZUM and Bay High that has provided priceless opportunities for students.
Hazel and Ella said they have enjoyed speaking into KZUM microphones. They felt the experience has boosted their confidence, expanded their network of friends and bolstered their resumes.
“I think it will just help us get in with the music community a lot more,” Hazel said. “Personally, I’ve always wanted to do music-centered things, so this is great. It’s been a lot of fun.”
“It’s been really helpful,” Ella said. “A lot of people, especially high schoolers, don’t get to do something like this. I feel really awesome and cool when I do it.”
Bay High teacher Brent Jarosz said he has been impressed with how Ella and Hazel have seized ownership of their futures. They have researched musical playlists, learned the rules of radio and met multiple KZUM staff members and volunteers.
“We have all of these opportunities here at Bay High, whether it’s connecting with somebody in the community and networking with them, or actually pursuing an internship or a job,” Jarosz said. “They’ve been my role models. I point to them and say to other kids, ‘Hey, you can use this (opportunity) if you want. You’ll be able to take it as far as you want to go with it.”
Bay High’s relationship with KZUM began five years ago when the station led an audio workshop for students. The session included tips about making podcasts and recording high-quality audio for video and music recording projects. KZUM General Manager Kerry Semrad and Underwriting Director Jenn Graham arranged several additional visits that blossomed into a full-fledged partnership.
“Jenn and Kerry were all about it,” Jarosz said. “They just jumped on it and said, ‘Yes, we want to do this.’ They got basically their whole staff to come and be part of everything we’ve done, which is really awesome.”
Graham said KZUM employees enjoy guiding Bay High juniors and seniors in the career exploration process. They host podcast pitch listening sessions each fall, run a Radio 101 club in the spring and help students publicize the annual Skate Art Music Fest.
“Helping them learn about how vital radio is as a communication tool, how important trusted local information is for themselves and their families, and creating that trust within the community is all very valuable,” Graham said. “When we have the opportunity to work with students who are on the verge of deciding to stay and grow in Lincoln or take their talents out of town, they get a chance to see how they can participate and be heard here.”
The introduction of the Radio 101 club has borne a large amount of educational fruit. The first installment resulted in several hour-long radio shows that aired on four consecutive Sunday afternoons. Students also wrote and taped promotional announcements for Skate Art Music Fest, which led to increased attendance at the event.
“The kids generated all of it,” Jarosz said. “They came up with what they wanted to say, they got to pick the music and then they talked about it, which was a lot of fun. That spurred Hazel and Ella to pursue it on their own, and now they have their own show on Wednesday nights, which is really good.”
Ella and Hazel are inaugural members of the KZUM Programmer Academy, which allows students to be on live airwaves every week. They sharpened their vision of “Groove Lagoon” after listening to a Tuesday night show called “Alt Night Long” in person at the studio.
“That was really fun,” Ella said. “I liked doing that.”
Ella and Hazel said their strategy is simple: play the best songs they think people would like to listen to.
“It’s any genre that we think fits,” Ella said. “It could be anything.”
Hazel said they have been pleased with the feedback they have received. Several people have contacted the station to express their satisfaction with the songs.
“It’s really cool getting to share music with other people,” Hazel said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Graham said the pipeline between Bay High and KZUM has already expanded her musical playlists.
“Hazel and Ella’s show has such a wide range of music that I love, even if I’ve never heard it before,” Graham said. “And that is one of the things I love best about KZUM – it’s curated by people who love music and love to share it. They have the exact right idea of what community radio is all about.”
Jarosz said Ella and Hazel are gaining career-boosting opportunities on KZUM’s airwaves. He felt they have become shining examples of how Bay High students are benefiting from the community partnership.
“It’s fun to see them grow as students and as individuals,” Jarosz said. “They were kind of quiet at first, and now they’re just confident in what they’re doing.”
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