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LAWRENCE -- During its 50th anniversary year, KANU has been named a recipient of a 2002 Governor's Arts Award.
The Kansas Arts Commission has recognized KANU 91.5-FM in Lawrence for its "half-century of broadcasting music, news, comedy and more. The recipient of more than 50 national awards, KANU is the only radio station in eastern Kansas providing locally hosted classical music. Based at the University of Kansas, the station serves 76,000 listeners across eastern Kansas."
The award will be presented at a dinner with Gov. Bill Graves on Sept. 20 at the Reardon Convention Center, Fifth and Minnesota streets, in Kansas City, Kan.
"Fifty years of outstanding broadcasting is a phenomenal legacy," said Janet Campbell, general manager of Kansas Public Radio. "This award reminds us of our responsibilities to continue the tradition of excellence that our listeners have come to rely on."
Dave Wilson, director of the Kansas Arts Commission said: "The awards are chosen by a panel after they rigorously screen all the applicants. Obviously the panel thought very highly of KANU and felt the station was worthy of an award.
"Public broadcasting is an integral part of telling the story of the arts in Kansas."
"This award is a wonderful tribute to all the talented producers and announcers who've contributed to the success of KANU and Kansas Public Radio over the last 50 years," said Darrell Brodgon, program director for Kansas Public Radio.
Other award recipients this year are: Ann Evans, Lawrence, director of the Lawrence Arts Center; photographer Larry Schwarm, Emporia; jeweler Marjorie Schick, Pittsburg; theatre professor Richard Welsbacher, Wichita; arts patron Ann Garvey, Wichita; and producer Wayne Bryan, Wichita.
Actor Ed Asner, a Kansas City, Kan., native and star of the hit TV shows "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Lou Grant," will receive the 2002 Distinguished Arts Award.
KANU, now part of the Kansas Public Radio network, went on the air Sept. 15, 1952.
Kansas Public Radio recently went back on the air in Emporia. KPR also plans to have a transmitter running in Manhattan by the end of the year, which would increase KPR's coverage area to most of northeast and east-central Kansas.
"The founders of KANU set high standards, and we work very hard to exceed those standards every day," Campbell said.
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