Down the hallway of closed doors, the room is dark. Laughter and conversation fill the space. Computers, headphones and microphones are in use. The room is filled with albums that cover the carpeted walls. Here, radio students communicate and create their work while a live audience listens to their productions. This is WGBK.

This year is full of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of South, but it also marks the 30th anniversary of WGBK.

According to Daniel Oswald, radio teacher and supervisor of WGBK, the program has grown significantly over the past years.

“More students are involved than ever before,” Oswald explained.

Oswald believes WGBK provides great opportunities for the students of South.

“Think of how many other young people never find their particular joy because they don’t have opportunities like those offered in the Glenbrooks,” Oswald said. “Radio is just one more sample of those opportunities.”

Senior Zach Van Epps, one of two station managers of WGBK, is also excited for this year.

“Being involved in radio has easily been the best part of my time at South,” Van Epps said. “I’ve met so many new people and made so many friends, and I discovered a lot about myself from it too.”

Oswald was not always the supervisor for WGBK, according to senior Brad Lanphere, host, co-station manager and DJ of the Suburban Jam on Wednesdays.

“In the beginning of WGBK we did not have the spectacular Dr. Oswald,” Lanphere said. “Dr. Oswald has been an inspiration to many students, and I can say he is one of mine as well.”

Oswald was awarded with the “Distinguished Teacher of the Year” for the years 2010-2011. Although Oswald has only been working at South for eight years, his teaching technique and personality appeal to many students according to Lanphere.

“My job is to provide as much guidance as students need depending

on their experience, maturity and motivation,” Oswald said. “If they need more help, then I provide more constant guidance.”

According to Oswald, not only has the number of students involved with radio grown, but the technology WGBK uses has too. Before the district bought the original station, WMWA, it was rented from its owner, New Church.

“Now we use new programs and some of the best radio equipment around, ensuring students get a great experience,” Van Epps said.

WGBK obtained second place in the national John Drury High School Radio Awards in the same year that it went on-air all hours of the day and became one of the only high school stations operating full time every day of the year.

“We are more unique now than ever,” Oswald said. “There are only 150 high school-owned, licensed radio stations with frequencies in the country, and I believe there are over 16,000 public high schools in the country.”

According to Lanphere, the students in WGBK have a lot of talent and potential.

“Year after year, the kids in radio make dynamite productions that sound very professional,” Lanphere said.

Oswald explains that working with the students has been an overall pleasant experience.

“I have been lucky to have taught groups of very interesting adolescents at GBS,” Oswald said. “Watching people grow and change is exciting; it is the enjoyable part of teaching.”

According to Lanphere, this year will be different from others. Because there have been recent replacements of Chicago Alternative stations, so WGBK is one of the only Alternative stations to reach the city.

“We could possibly have a bigger audience so we need to be on our A-games and be the best DJs we can,” Lanphere said.

According to Lanphere and Van Epps, this year WGBK is going to try to have a Radiothon and a Radio Management Band for the battle of the bands. Promotional items such as cups and pens are also being put into consideration.

“I hope we get [the] respect of the school because we are just a bunch of normal kids learning about radio and possibly trying to make a career out of it,” Lanphere said.