Rowan University alumna, Allison Bruce, one of two Rowan students in history, received a Gracie Award for Best Host on the Radio: in front of the microphone section. Bruce was at Rowan Radio for four and a half years, where she originally started her training in the summer of 2020. By June of 2024, Bruce became the news director at Rowan Radio.

“This award means so much to me. I really wasn’t expecting it at all, and I got to join Megan Steckler as the only two people in Rowan Radio history to have won two Gracie’s. It just makes it sweeter that Megan and I went to Kingsway High School together,” said Bruce.

The process that brought Bruce to accomplish this award was her three shows. She received the award for being the host of the weekly Rowan Report, her look into the opening of the Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Advancement of Women in Communications Suite, and a report on budget issues facing The Whit on Rowan radio. Allison Bruce hosted and produced a Rowan Report every week, where she was able to tell national, international, Rowan sports, and business news.

“I was fortunate enough to interview Lillian Kopenhaver and understand the impact the new suite would have on the community. I knew as a news director that people needed to know that our school newspaper was facing budget cuts,” said Bruce.

In the radio industry, it is hard to input personal bias. Bruce had to face the struggles of not putting in bias, where she had to rewrite her scripts even if it was for national news or The Whit’s budget cuts.

“I had friends at The Whit, and as a journalist myself, I wanted to make the best case possible to save The Whit. But as the news director, I have to take my bias out of it and deliver the facts for other people to draw their own conclusions,” said Bruce.

The radio industry is known for being fast-paced, and students at Rowan can explore the different factors of the radio.

“It’s very fun to be in the radio industry. I truly wasn’t expecting to win another Gracie, and I was perfectly happy and proud of my one, so winning a second one was a surprise,” said Bruce.

As an alumna of Rowan University Bruce enjoyed her time at Rowan. She enjoyed being a part of Rowan Radio and having the opportunity to become the news director of Rowan Radio.

“I would tell Rowan students to get involved and get in touch with Derek Jones or Leo Kirschner, the two station managers. The radio station is always looking for more people, and there are many branches to get into and leadership roles that are super fulfilling,” said Bruce.

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