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The International Student Broadcasting Championship has announced the winners for 2025, recognizing student broadcasters, podcasters, journalists and digital creators from 12 countries across five continents. ISBC says this year’s results highlight growing participation and rising standards across student media worldwide.
The championship describes itself as a global platform created by leaders in education and industry to assess student work against professional benchmarks. It spans radio, podcasting, journalism, digital content and esports casting, offering international visibility for emerging creators and the institutions that support them.
Global field and finalists
ISBC says the 2025 competition attracted entries from major markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and the Philippines. The organization reports that finalists demonstrated strong technical ability and creative ambition across both traditional broadcasting and digital platforms.
A total of 37 categories were awarded in areas such as on-air performance, news, sport, podcasting, production craft, multimedia storytelling and digital innovation. ISBC says the breadth of categories reflects the evolving nature of student media and the expanding skill sets needed across modern content creation.
Notable individual winners
Several individual entrants were recognized for standout achievements across the competition. ISBC says Nick Rodecap from Indiana University Bloomington won two major categories, making the station one of the few multi-award winners of 2025 and demonstrating strong consistency across formats. The organization also highlighted two-time winner Nico Horning from Syracuse University, whose results contributed to Syracuse being named the most decorated institution of the year.
ISBC reports that Sara Huweedi from The American University in Cairo won Best TV News or Sports Feature, marking one of the strongest international journalism entries in this year’s field. Additional highlights include Jack Boyd from BOOM Radio at North Metro TAFE in Western Australia, who won Best Newcomer On-Air, and Jackson Volz from the University of West Georgia, who secured the People’s Choice Content Creator title. ISBC also recognized Kay Simpson from Boom Radio at Fife College in Scotland, who won Best Music Presenter with a performance the organization says sets a new benchmark for student music radio.
Station of the Year and institutional recognition
Shock Radio at the University of Salford in Manchester received the 2025 Station of the Year title. ISBC says the station demonstrated consistent creativity, originality and technical quality across its entries.
The organization also named its top-performing institutions from four continents. Syracuse University and John Carroll University represented the United States, alongside the University of Pretoria (Tuks) in South Africa, the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and the University of Salford in the U.K. ISBC says this mix reflects the championship’s increasingly international reach.
Judges, assessment and industry connection
ISBC says its judging panel comprises more than 60 media professionals representing over 33 countries and speaking more than 21 languages. The organization reports that these judges, drawn from broadcasting, journalism and digital media, evaluate entries using contemporary industry standards.
A key component of the process is the detailed feedback provided to entrants. ISBC says the commentary offers students practical guidance on editorial judgment, technical execution and presentation, helping them strengthen their craft and prepare for professional roles.
Looking ahead to ISBC 2026
ISBC says it will present the Station of the Year trophy and individual gold medals at an event in the United Kingdom in 2026. The ceremony forms part of the organization’s broader aim to foster international collaboration between student broadcasters and strengthen institutional connections.
The championship says it will continue expanding its network across radio, podcasting, digital storytelling and esports casting, building a global community that supports student development and advances educational media programs.
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