Area 31 Radio Broadcasting Earns State Recognition for Community Service

The Area 31 Career Center Radio Broadcasting program has been recognized for using its students' skills to make a meaningful difference in the community. The program received the 2026 Indiana Association of School Broadcasters (IASB) Firefly Award for Community Service for its coverage of the Out of the Darkness Walk in September 2025.

Organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Out of the Darkness Walk brings communities together to raise awareness, support those impacted by suicide, and help prevent future loss. Area 31 students put their broadcasting skills into action by covering the event, helping amplify its important message, and demonstrating how media can inform and serve the community.The recognition was made even more special for the Area 31 broadcasting family when Paul Mendenhall, predecessor to Area 31 Radio Broadcasting Earns State recognition for Community Service current Radio Broadcasting instructor Jon Easter, received the IASB John King Award for Distinguished Service to Educational Broadcasting. The honor recognizes Paul's longstanding contributions to student broadcasting and his impact on educational broadcasting in Indiana.Congratulations to our Radio Broadcasting students, Jon, and Paul on these meaningful and well-deserved honors!