By Theresa Servin
Tucked away from the busiest corners of campus, the University of the Incarnate Word’s student-run radio station, KUIW, is quietly undergoing a transformation — one centered on student voices, creativity and community.
KUIW operates through the Radio Practicum course, where students gain hands-on experience not only behind the microphone but also in the day-to-day operations of running a radio station.
According to the program’s new professor and station leader, Professor David Mendez, the goal is simple: make the station truly student-centered.
“The main vision of the radio practicum class has always been to give students an in-depth, hands-on approach to radio operations,” Mendez said. “With new changes, we wanted to foster student-centricity at KUIW.”
Student-run radio stations have long served as creative outlets on college campuses and KUIW is no exception. The station allows students to explore their individuality while learning how to communicate with an audience.
“Radio gives students a powerful platform to voice their opinions and challenge social issues,” Mendez explained. “It gives some students a way to nurture their creativity and find their own voice.”
Monika Hernandez, a first-year student and KUIW DJ, described radio as something different from other forms of media.
“If TikTok is a dopamine hit and podcasts are intentional listening, radio is companionship,” Hernandez said. “And companionship still matters.”
Andrea Mayes, a broadcast meteorology student and KUIW radio host, highlighted the station’s practical value as a learning tool.
“Even with Wi-Fi being out, radio is a great tool,” Mayes said.
She hosts a weekly weather and safety-focused show and noted that radio remains reliable even when other technologies fail.
For Smilia Matovic, hosting a show focused on social aspects of life offers a personal way to connect with listeners.
“It’s a way to express myself and share what my peers at UIW are interested in,” Matovic said.
While KUIW is a broadcast space, it also functions as a learning environment where students develop real-world skills. From reading analytics to refining content based on audience engagement, students learn how to adapt and grow.
“One of the most important skills students gain is learning how to read real-time data and adjust outcomes based on that data,” Mendez said. “It develops communication skills across multiple platforms while maintaining responsibility within a workplace setting.”
Danna Ramos, Program Director for KUIW, emphasized how the station helps students grow professionally and personally.
“The hands-on experience helps with improvisation, problem solving and timing. Things that can’t just be learned from a book,” Ramos said.
Several DJs noted that an increase in confidence is one of the most surprising outcomes of working at the station. Students who initially feel nervous behind the mic often become confident hosts over the course of the semester.
“You can see the growth in them as the semester goes along,” Mendez said. “Once students feel heard, that’s when you see them blossom.”
That confidence-building theme was reiterated by Erick Castillo, known on air as “DJ Chiwi.”
Castillo said working at KUIW helped him gain confidence beyond the classroom. “Confidence, for sure,” he said, noting that the station encourages students to step outside their comfort zones.
In a digital-first world dominated by streaming and social media, KUIW continues to prove that radio still has a place. Online radio allows the station to reach listeners far beyond campus, including out-of-state and international audiences.
“We are streaming across the U.S. and even overseas,” Mendez said.
Oscar Aguilar, host of “Why Jesus?”, believes radio’s relevance is in its consistency.
“Radio is a legacy medium that hasn’t lost its relevance,” Aguilar said. “It’s still worth investing in.”
Under its current leadership, KUIW aims to increase its listener base, strengthen its brand and become more visible to the student body. The station’s new motto— “Your College, Your Voice, Your Station”—reflects that mission.
In five years, Mendez hopes students will see KUIW as their own space.
“I want the station to be heard by more than just a small percentage of the student body,” Mendez said. “I want students to recognize it as their voice.”
For the students involved, KUIW already serves as a space where creativity, learning and community come together, one broadcast at a time.
