WSLX

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• The History of WSLX

  Broadcast radio began at St. Luke’s School in 1973, when Peter Bush Swanberg ’73, formerly of WEBE 108 and 95.9 THE FOX FM, built radio station WNCR. WNCR was a carrier current AM station, operated by SLS students under the direction of English Department Head Robert Blakely. WNCR quickly evolved into a popular and unique student activity, and in 1975, was upgraded to an educational FM station WSLX. The new station featured an expanded format, and faculty advisor John Csenger increased the staff to include students in all grades. It was during this time that Dan Mecca ’81, formerly Media Director at St. Luke’s, first became involved with WSLX as a seventh grade DJ. All programming originated at the school, and was created and produced by students. Sadly, a major theft of all the studio equipment forced an untimely end to on-campus programming.
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  In order to maintain its license, WSLX was modified to allow outside programming to be broadcast. For many years, WMNR Fine Arts radio could be heard on 91.9 FM, where WSLX resided. Several attempts were made to restore WSLX to its original purpose as a student-operated, educational station, but it was not until 2002 that significant progress toward this goal was made.

   

  During the 2002-03 school year, a committee comprised of Peter Bush Swanberg, Dan Mecca, engineers Ed Butler and Paul Litwinovich, several faculty members, parents, and students met to explore the possibility of returning on-campus broadcasting to St. Luke’s. With the generous support of the SLS Parents’ Association, a significant equipment donation from WPLJ Radio, and the donated time and labor of the committee members and their many friends in the broadcast industry, Phase I of the WSLX initiative was completed.

   

  WSLX can now be heard at 91.9 FM 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with all programming originating on St. Luke's Hilltop campus. Using the latest technology, WSLX operates as a fully automated station, no longer relying on outside programming for content. WSLX has evolved back into a part of the extra-curricular activities program, which includes live student broadcasts on weekday afternoons, play-by-play broadcasts of home varsity football games in the fall, and boys and girls varsity basketball games in the winter. There have even been live shows in the morning by select SLS faculty.
  
  With the addition of Internet streaming capability in 2009, an upgraded web presence at www.wslx.org in the fall of 2010, and the addition of album artwork for each song in the summer of 2020, WSLX continues as a student-centered opportunity for teaching and learning about the world of broadcast radio!

   

  SLS faculty member Jeff Kress currently manages WSLX on a volunteer basis. With his help and our "Friends of WSLX" and the work by our students, WSLX continues to keep our community and beyond entertained and informed. 
  
  Be sure to tune in and stay connected to the ever-evolving WSLX, 91.9 FM.