KWLC celebrates 100 years of broadcasting

Luther College’s campus radio station, KWLC 1240 AM, will celebrate a century of campus broadcasting with an anniversary block party from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at Bentdahl Commons.

In this photo featured in the 1969 Pioneer yearbook, Bob Nus and Jon Nelson await their cue from the control room at KWLC. Photo courtesy of Luther College Archives.

As one of the oldest operating radio stations in Iowa, KWLC serves as a creative platform for amplifying student voices and a professional environment for Luther students to gain broadcasting experience.

“It is impressive that Luther College has had a radio presence for 100 years in northeast Iowa,” said Jay Raabe, administrative advisor for KWLC. “Owning a radio FCC license is a significant responsibility and I am continually impressed by the professionalism and positivity of the current student team at KWLC.”

On Dec. 18, 1926, KWLC had its inaugural broadcast when Luther College President Oscar L. Olson read U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. While early programming aired only a few times a week, the station expanded to daily broadcasts in the 1930s and has remained a consistent presence on campus ever since.

In 2025, KWLC was restructured as a student organization, with student leaders not only providing the programming but also operating and maintaining the station for the first time. The station offers students the opportunity to host shows, explore music, report on campus life, and develop professional skills.

Many Luther alumni who worked at KWLC as college students have gone on to successful careers in radio and media, including positions at Minnesota Public Radio. Notable KWLC alumni include Mike Danforth ’95, executive producer of the show, “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” on National Public Radio, and Mike Grimm ’93, who has been the “voice of the Gophers” for the University of Minnesota men’s basketball since 2006 and for football since 2011. 

The station is currently led by a team of student officers, including station manager Lindsey Moseley ’26, communications and outreach coordinator Jeanette Pelletier ’26, social media manager David Hinderaker ’27, and treasurer Alex Burdzy ’28.

KWLC student DJs and Chips writers had the opportunity to visit Minnesota Public Radio on March 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. During their tour, Luther students met with Lindsay Kimball, a Luther College class of 2005 graduate. Kimball is the program director for “The Current.”

“I have really enjoyed being a part of KWLC,” Pelletier said. “I have especially enjoyed working with my peers and faculty to plan the 100-year anniversary block party on April 24. KWLC has always had a tradition of fronting student expression, so it was only a matter of time before our block parties came back. I hope this 100-year celebration of KWLC will remind folks of the alternative means of entertainment and creative expression on campus.”

For KWLC DJs and their listeners, the 100-year anniversary is more than a milestone; it’s a celebration of the voices and stories that have shaped the station for generations. KWLC’s anniversary block party will feature live music from Stonewalker and Grandma’s Banjo, Sugar Bowl ice cream, and lawn games. 

“This event is a celebration of the past, but also an opportunity to recruit the next crew to share good tunes and thoughtful interviews across our campus community. Please bring a blanket and your friends for a fun evening,” Raabe said.

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