Hillsdale Students Win Awards at IBS NYC 2026

Why It Matters

The awards validate Hillsdale’s media training program and raise the college’s profile in collegiate broadcasting, attracting talent and industry partnerships.

Key Takeaways

• Two students win first‑place at IBS College Media Awards
• Erika Kyba recognized for Best Specialty Show (Non‑Music)
• Lauren Smyth awarded Best News Director, Radio
• WRFH podcast ‘The Poetry Fix’ modernizes classic poetry
• Awards highlight Hillsdale’s strong student‑run radio program

Pulse Analysis

The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) College Media Awards are a benchmark for campus‑level broadcasting excellence, drawing entries from hundreds of universities nationwide. Securing first‑place honors at the 86th IBS Conference signals that Hillsdale’s programming not only meets but exceeds industry standards, positioning its students alongside peers from top communications schools. Such recognition often translates into heightened visibility for the institution’s media curriculum and can open doors for collaborative projects with professional broadcasters.

Erika Kyba’s “The Poetry Fix” and Lauren Smyth’s leadership of WRFH’s news department illustrate the breadth of talent cultivated at Hillsdale. Kyba’s five‑minute podcast distills classic poetry into an accessible format, demonstrating how niche content can thrive in a digital‑first environment. Smyth’s role as News Director ensured that the station’s coverage remained factual, timely, and engaging, a skill set increasingly prized by newsrooms confronting rapid news cycles. Both achievements reflect a hands‑on educational model where students produce real‑world content, gaining portfolio‑ready experience before graduation.

For Hillsdale, the accolades serve as a strategic asset in recruitment and alumni relations. Prospective students seeking a robust, experiential media program now have concrete evidence of award‑winning outcomes. Moreover, industry partners may view the college as a pipeline for fresh talent, fostering internship pipelines and guest‑lecture opportunities. In a broader context, the success underscores a growing trend: smaller institutions leveraging student‑run stations to compete on a national stage, reshaping the landscape of collegiate broadcasting and reinforcing the value of practical, student‑led media initiatives.