Note: A version of this article will be published in the Concord Bridge.

Concord-Carlisle High School’s radio station, WIQH, might have a cryptic name, which according to its website is rumored to stand for “Why I Quit Highschool,” but what is clear is the bustling and vibrant community’s passion for radio. Station manager Ned Roos describes that it’s “rare” to walk into a quiet station. “There’s always stuff going on,” whether students are “working on projects like getting ready to broadcast a CCHS sporting event, helping to add music to our… computer system,” or even just hanging out to do homework.

Beyond collaborating with the Weather Club for regular weather forecasts and with student athletes for sports broadcasts, WIQH has also worked with numerous other clubs. For instance, they’ve put on shows with the Intersections Club, highlighting issues such as racial disparities in education, and with the theatre department for a radio drama during COVID. So, it’s no surprise that the station draws a diverse crowd encompassing artists, athletes, activists, journalists, and more. Many faculty members have found joy in WIQH as well, including former English teacher Linda Vice-Hisey, who retired last year but has continued returning for her weekly show. 

Above all, the students of WIQH emphasize the opportunity the radio station has given them to showcase their personalities and interests while growing their sense of belonging. Ben Redmond (’24, Tech Director) summarizes that his favorite thing about WIQH is “the friends [he has] made, the skills [he has] learned, and the sense of community.” Claire Roeser (’26, Training Director & DJ) recalls that “when [she] first came here, [she] wasn’t even particularly interested in radio, but [she] just needed something to do and [she] thought that it looked like a cool room.” Since then, she has met “so many fantastic people” and gained confidence in public speaking. Claire Owen (’24, Program Director & DJ) echoes that WIQH has “given [her] contact with people in other grades more so than [she would] usually get in classes,” and she enjoys sharing the daily bits of her life on the show she co-hosts with her best friends. 

Bridget Batsford (’24, DJ) adds that “since day one, [she] felt accepted and welcomed in by everybody,” explaining that she loves sharing playlists and her “very specific music taste” as a DJ. “You can play a song and someone will walk in and be like, ‘Oh, that’s my favorite song,’ and there’s a connection point there,” she explains. 

Delaney Remington (’25, Publicity Manager) says that she loves the flexibility of being able to choose between “[broadcasting] sports games when they work for you, [training] to be a DJ with one lunch block a week, [or hosting] a show” for an hour after school each week. Gabrielle Whidden (’26, DJ) says that in addition to staying in touch with friends that she might not see in school, “it’s just fun” being on air – and “a lot more chill” than she had initially expected.

Roos says that beyond simply playing music, which in today’s society is easily accessible through apps like Spotify, WIQH offers students the opportunity to socialize, run a show with friends, gain hands-on experience and involvement in technology, and share pieces from their lives with their listeners. Roos furthers, “When you’re running a radio show, you have free rein to talk about whatever you want, which is healing.” Case in point: Roeser and Whidden co-host a show where they read from the Concord Bridge’s police log every week and make up games, including one from last year called “A Harry Situation” involving trivia about Harry Styles, Prince Harry, and Harry Potter. Owen says that on her show, she and her friends have debated “whether Calvin and Hobbes or Captain Underpants had more literary value.”

For the student managers, their roles bring both greater responsibilities and opportunities, and the station often becomes like a “second home,” in Roeser’s words. In Roeser’s experience, although it’s challenging to balance WIQH with mental health, schoolwork, and other extracurriculars, she’s able to motivate herself knowing that “[she] wanted this position.” Redmond adds, “I spend as much time [at WIQH] as I can, being productive or just being an ambassador to the station.”

WIQH’s influence on students often lasts beyond the hours they dedicate to the station during their years at CCHS. Roos says that several graduates have gone on to pursue majors and careers in professional journalism, sports broadcasting, and video and television. WIQH alumni have broadcasted on well-known university radio stations like Emerson College and even professional stations like Sirius XM. Many of the current seniors say they’re considering some manner of incorporating radio into their future. Redmond says he’s hoping to get involved with much larger stations at colleges he’s applying to. Owen describes that WIQH has provided her with a “supportive community” and the opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes of equipment and broadcasting, without which she might otherwise feel “kind of intimidated” pursuing college radio.

Every student ultimately refers back to Roos, whom Remington calls “the spirit of the radio station,” for his dedication to WIQH and its students. Remington describes that he keeps both the stations and the students running with his constant supply of “sound advice and a wisecrack.” But Roos himself refers right back to the students: “Not everybody understands [that WIQH] is a club… not a radio class. Students who work here don’t get credit for it. They do it because they really enjoy it.” Perhaps that passion for radio is what WIQH signifies – a message that echoes through radio frequencies.

Note: Although the station’s small size means the air signal is hard to pick up beyond five miles from the high school, it can always be heard online through wiqh.org. In fact, as of November 15th, WIQH made a leap forward in broadcasting 24 hours per day with prerecorded and preloaded music and shows! WIQH would also love to run any public service announcements for local non-profit organizations and clubs!