WJPZ Alumni Assn. Birthday Banquet Set, Film Doc To Debut

Birthday Banquet March 1st

The WJPZ ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, which unites alumni of the SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY student-operated Top 40 station, will hold its 29th Annual Birthday Banquet on SATURDAY, MARCH 1st at the SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SHERATON. Nearly 100 alumni and students will attend the evening celebration, which marks the 29th year of WJPZ on the FM band.  

Earlier that day, a new documentary “Greatest Media Classroom,” which depicts the legacy of WJPZ, will premiere to a private screening of Banquet attendees. That evening, alumni will honor the recently retired Professor Emeritus of the S.I. NEWHOUSE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, DR. ROOSEVELT “RICK” WRIGHT, founding faculty advisor of WJPZ. WWLI/PROVIDENCE morning host STEPHEN DONOVAN (class of ’95), will emcee the event.

Also during the Banquet weekend, the WJPZ Alumni Association will induct its sixth class into the WJPZ Hall of Fame. 2014 inductees, all considered “founders” of the station are:

* BILL BLYELE (’76), WJPZ’s first GM; now 911 Commissioner for ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y.
* GREG HERNANDEZ (’76), WJPZ’s first Sales Manager and nighttime DJ; now spokesman for the FDIC
* MIKE ROBERTS (‘79), WJPZ’s second GM, longtime WVEE/ATLANTA radio host and current owner of ROBERTS COMMUNICATIONS.

“Greatest Media Classroom" was produced by SCOTT MACFARLANE (’98) news reporter for WRC-TV/NBC in WASHINGTON, D.C. and funded by the WJPZ ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. “The full WJPZ story is long overdue to be told and finally, it will all be accessible in one place, as told by the alumni who lived it,” WJPZ ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Pres. T.J. BASALLA (’06) said. “Once again, this weekend will bring together leaders from across the communications industry as well as current WJPZ staff. This year, we will continue to stand out among college alumni networks to celebrate the founding of the station, the friendship and mentorship of RICK WRIGHT and what makes our group truly special.”

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