KWDM

88.7 KWDM The Point
West Des Moines, Iowa;
Frequency	88.7 (MHz)
Branding	88.7 KWDM The Point
Programming
Format	Modern Rock/Alternative
Ownership
Owner	West Des Moines Community School District
History
First air date	October 1, 1976
Call sign meaning	West Des Moines
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Class	A
ERP	100 watts
Links
Public license information	KWDM The Point Public file; LMS;
Website	887kwdm.wix.com/kwdm-the-point

KWDM, "88.7 KWDM The Point," is a modern rock high school radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa area on 88.7 FM. The radio station's studio is located at Valley High School in West Des Moines. It is owned and operated by the West Des Moines Community School District and is operated by students at Valley under the direction of a staff advisor.

History

On October 1, 1976, the West Des Moines Community School District signed KWDM on the air at 88.9 MHz.^[1] The KWDM call letters had previously been used on two commercial stations in Des Moines, 1150 AM (later KWKY) and 93.3 FM (later KIOA), under the ownership of George Webber. In 1994, KWDM's frequency was migrated from 88.9 FM to 88.7 FM and its power increased from 10 watts ERP to 100 watts. The station is one of two high school radio stations in Iowa, the other being KDPS operated by Des Moines Public Schools.

Programming

KWDM's student staff dictate what format the station will play. Students have the option to change the format at the beginning of any school year. In the late 1970s and through much of the 1980s, the station played a free-form format where the on-air jock played the music of their choice. In the early 1990s, the station was a strictly classic rock format. In 1993, the station began playing the popular Alternative or Modern Rock format. In 1999, KWDM began to experiment with a switch to CHR/Top 40 music. The move was abandoned after IHeartMedia, Inc. owned KKDM switched formats from Alternative to Top 40. The station continues to play the Modern Rock format.

Student management

One of KWDM's hallmarks is its student management. While a faculty advisor oversees operations and is responsible for regulatory and engineering issues, students are predominantly responsible for the station's programming and music selection. One student (In most cases) is selected each year through a competitive application process to serve as station manager.

School Year	Student Station Manager(s)	Faculty Advisor	Station Identity
Spring 1977:	George Oliver	Greg Franck	88.9 KWDM
1987-1988:	Howie Hoffman	Lil McDonald	88.9 KWDM
1988-1989:	Rob Lettington	Lil McDonald	88.9 KWDM
1989-1990:	Ryan Burger	Lil McDonald	88.9 KWDM "Tiger 89, the Hot FM"
1990-1991:	N/A (Five Production Directors instead of one Station Manager)	Lil McDonald	88.9 KWDM
1991-1992:	Damond Fudge	Lil McDonald	88.9 KWDM
1992-1993:	Bryan Romig	Brian Christensen	"Power 89"
1993-1994:	Chris Wulf	Brian Christensen	"Power 89"
1994-1995:	T.G. Stouffer	Brian Christensen	88.7 KWDM "Your Only Alternative"
1995-1996:	Jeremy Bingaman	Brian Christensen	88.7 KWDM "Des Moines' Only Alternative"
1996-1997:	Brian Gongol	Brian Christensen	"New Rock 88.7"
1997-1998:	Marianne Coppock	Brian Christensen	"New Rock 88.7" KWDM "The Source"
1998-1999:	Justin Schoen	Brian Christensen	"New Rock 88.7" KWDM "The Source"
1999-2000:	Jesse Hoffman	Brian Christensen	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2000-2001:	Tonya Garner	Brian Christensen	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2001-2002:	Nicole Faust	Brian Christensen	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2002-2003:	Joe Quinn/Jason Loe	Brian Christensen	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2003-2004:	MacKenzie Carey / Kate Maletta	Brian Christensen	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2004-2005:	Ryan Snider/Jeff Edwards	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2005-2006:	Hannah Korpela/Alex Salem	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2006-2007:	Lauren Mease/Cole Cheney	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2007-2008:	Joanna McNurlen	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2008-2009:	Ryan Mueksch/Jillian Shkolnick	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2009-2010:	Jillian Shkolnick/John Menken	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2010-2011:	Jacob Menken/Nailah Bakari	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2012-2013	Dylan DeClerk/Joe Eilers	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2013-2014	Taylor Mankle	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2014-2015	Ben Swanson	Janell Mikels	"88.7 KWDM The Point"
2015-2016	Ben Berry (AKA Ben DeCastro)	Janell Mikels

KWDM alums in broadcasting

In the more than 30 years that the West Des Moines School District has owned KWDM, many of the station's alumni have gone on to careers in the radio and television industry.

Student	Years on KWDM	Station	Position
Bill Oliver	1976–1977	Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan/College Station TX	News Director
Joe Ditzel	1976–1978	VastMediaEmpire.com, Los Angeles, CA	Owner/ CEO (formerly worked at NBC-TV)
Alan Kline	1977–1978	KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA	Engineer
Dave Smiley	1987–1990	WZPL-FM, Indianapolis, IN	"The Smiley Morning Show"
Greg Chance	1987–1990	KKDM-FM, Des Moines, IA	iHeart Media Regional Program Manager for Iowa/Operations Manager (has since left the station)
Brian Allen	1987–1991	KSFY-TV, Sioux Falls, SD	News Anchor
Jeremy Bingaman	1992–1996	KIOA-FM Des Moines, IA	Morning Show Host (Known as "Luke Matthews")
Chad Rufer	1992–1996	Bonneville International, Sacramento, CA	Vice President of Programming
Brian Gongol	1993–1997	WHO (AM), Des Moines, IA	"The Brian Gongol Show," "WHO Radio Wise Guys" (has since left the station)
Marianne Coppock	1994–1998	KSTZ-FM, Des Moines, IA	On-Air Swing (has since left station)
Brian Stark	1994–1998	Starz Entertainment, Englewood, Colorado	Media Systems Administrator
Leigh McNabb	1995–1999	KIOA-FM, Des Moines, IA	Program Director, Midday host
Karsten Lunde	1997-1999	KSQY, KIQK, KXMZ, KTOQ, Rapid City, SD	Operations Manager & PM Drive Host
Brett Wolf	1996–2000	KAZR, Des Moines, IA	Weekend Swing (known as Cage)
Ashley Hinson	1998–2001	KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids, IA	Morning and Midday News Anchor (Has since left station)
Nicole Faust	1999–2002	Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, IA	Director of Interactive Media
Joe Quinn	2000-2003	KXSP, Omaha, NE	Co-Host, "The Drive"
Sarah Moritz-Heuertz	2001–2004	KAZR, Des Moines, IA	Weekends, (known as Sarah Greene)
Nick Ratcliff	2003–2006	KSTZ-FM, Des Moines, IA	Weekends (has since left station)
Thomas Matysik	2005–2008	Bullseye with Jesse Thorn, History Made Up	Radio and Podcast Producer

Programming information

Broadcasts are expected to change due to seniors leaving.

The Morning Show: News, Weather, Traffic and a great way to start any morning on the way to work or school.

The Mankle in the Morning Show: Daily sit down with the station manager Taylor Mankle full of interactive fan requests and music.

The Spread: A Variety Show of sorts as prominent voices of the point shine through in a more musical light as improve song are made on the spot along with covers for the enjoyment of listeners. Led by Taylor Mankle, along with Jacob White, Henry Parizek, and Nick Cesario.

Tiger Talk: A group discussion before every Valley Football game with guest callers, predictions, stats and much more. Led by Jack Rodgers, Jeff Goetz, Jake Goetz, Logan Bylie, and Ben Swanson.

Football Games: Most VHS football games are broadcast live on air with play-by-play announcer Taylor Mankle and color announcers Nick Cesario and Ben Swanson.

Basketball Games: All VHS basketball home games are broadcast live by play-by-play announcer Taylor Mankle.

Half Time Show: If booked, local bands perform live in the studio for both football and basketball half time shows.