Raider Student Media: Giving Back On-Air, On-Campus, and Beyond

April is National Volunteer Month — a time to celebrate those who go above and beyond in service to their communities. At the University of Mount Union’s  Raider Student Media, giving back isn’t just something they do — it’s part of who they are.

“Our student members give back to campus in so many ways,” says Lynn Riggle, Station Manager and Co-Advisor for Raider Student Media. “Inside the organization, we provide non-profit businesses with public service announcements, DJs for event entertainment, and some of our students even provide videography work for other departments and offices on campus.”

But Raider Student Media’s impact reaches well beyond their studios. From campus fundraisers and awareness campaigns for local organizations to painting walls at a local domestic violence shelter, the students behind the mic are also in the community — showing up, getting involved, and making a difference.

“Service is a core part of our university,” Riggle adds, “and we are committed to doing that through our student organization as well.”

One story that perfectly captures the heart behind that commitment is one of Riggle’s personal favorites.

“I love helping community members who may not be familiar with digital editing or have the funds to hire a professional,” she explains. “Last year, we had a couple come in with an old audio reel-to-reel they were looking to have digitized. It was a recording of the woman’s sister, who had passed away, in the play Camelot in the early 1970s.”

After navigating technical issues and hours of trial and error, Riggle was finally able to recover a small portion of the audio.

“It was her sister singing,” she recalls. “She started to tear up and said, ‘I never thought I’d hear that beautiful voice again.’ Both her husband and I started crying as well, and all I could do was give her a hug. Something so simple to me brought her so much joy — and I was so happy to do it for her.”

Riggle’s passion for service extends well beyond her campus, too. She volunteered for five years as Development Director of the College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) Board — a role she initially took on to network and grow professionally, but quickly found deeper meaning in.

“I immediately realized how much all the board members give of themselves to make CBI a success,” she says. “These are individuals who already hold full-time positions at their own universities and still give of their own free time and resources to create great programming and support. I was — and still am — truly humbled by this amazing group of people.”

As National Volunteer Month continues, Riggle encourages others to consider how they, too, can make a difference. “I urge you to take a look to see what you might be able to do to be a service to this wonderful organization.”

From the studio to the shelter, from one student to an entire campus community, Raider Student Media proves that the most powerful broadcasts are sometimes made through simple acts of service.

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