DSU Radio Station
Using student on-air personalities
By Jack Criss, The Bolivar Bullet
October 22, 2025
Just listen to the music: There's nothing quite like it in the Delta — and it's a sound emanating from Cleveland and the campus of Delta State University.
88.1 WDSW The Trail (WDSW-LP) is a licensed LPFM radio station by the Federal Communications Commission. The station broadcasts with a 100-watt stereo signal on 88.1 MHz that can be heard in a 10-mile radius around the campus.
"We also stream worldwide via the TuneIn service available on your Alexa Device," said Blake Smith, Program Director for the station. "88.1 WDSW The Trail is owned and operated by Delta State University. We're a learning lab for students as part of our radio broadcast courses, in addition to serving Cleveland and the surrounding communities with unique programming unserved by other broadcasters in the Delta."
According to the station's website, the programming on 88.1 WSDW The Trail is an Adult Album Alternative format with an emphasis on Americana, classic rock, alternative rock, and pop. Station Demographics are 50% male and 50% female, aged 25-54. On any given day, listeners can hear artists from local musicians to John Prine, to seldomheard Mick Jagger solo recordings to The Police -- and just about anything in between.
88.1 WDSW The Trail also operates as a public media station, meaning it is membersupported by underwriting from listeners and the business community. "This is how we maintain our facility and continue to operate the station," said Smith.
The Trail has a five-year history broadcasting from its studios on the third floor of the Student Union at DSU. The station was launched Nov. 6, 2015, with the goal of providing Adult Album Alternative programming through the assistance of the Delta State University Foundation, along with friends supporters of the station.
The initial launch was the result of years of planning and commitment numerous people within the Delta State family.
Tricia Walker, Director Emeritus of the Delta Music Institute and Professor of Practice Emeritus, Entertainment Studies at Delta State, was one of the primary champions behind the station's creation and said she has always been a fan of college radio and the programming it offers.
In first researching the possibility of getting a station at Delta State nearly a decade ago, Walker and others on the Delta State staff found that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not open up frequencies very often. However, when they do, the window of time to apply for a radio license is often extremely slim.
So when, in 2013, the FCC announced a window of time that applications for a Low Power FM license would be accepted, everyone knew it was time to move forward.
"A group of campus/radio fans convened to discuss the possibilities," said Walker. "In that early group were myself, Don Allan Mitchell, Karen Bell, Will Jacks, Michelle Johansen, and the late Dorothy Shawhan. Others on campus with radio connections included Pat Webster, Matt Jones, and former Delta State professor, Ron Douglas."
The application for an LPFM construction permit was submitted to the FCC on Jan. 27, 2014. Once the construction permit was issued, the station had to be on the air within 18 months or the construction permit would expire.
According to the station’s website, available call letters were obtained, and in the summer of 2015, the station was born through the generous donation of equipment by Delta State alumnus, J. Boyd Ingram, Radio's Larry Fuss, the support of DSU Foundation, and the hard work of Ed Czelada and the Elijah Mondy family. Thanks to their time and support, the FCC granted the license to Delta State on July 27, 2015.
"The involvement of students will be essential in order for the station to achieve its mission ‘to engage in and celebrate Cleveland and Delta State University through alternative, non-commercial, radio programming and to offer broadcast learning opportunities for community members and the Delta State family,’" according to the station’s website.
As the newly-hired Radio Operations Specialist for Delta State University, Blake Smith oversees the daily operations and programs the music on The Trail. And he works daily with the current crop of student "jocks," three of whom have very interesting stories.
Angie Moreno Gamero, an international student from Spain who spends a lot of time on The Trail's social media brainstorming ideas, scheduling content, working on shoots and interviewing student athletes like herself, is a member of the DSU tennis team and majoring in Sports Management.
"(Fellow jock) Isa and I were looking for an on-campus job," said Angie. "We went door to door, talking to people and sharing our information. Eventually, someone mentioned that there might be an open position at the university radio station. The next day, we both went together to introduce ourselves and ask if there were any openings. After speaking with Blake, we applied, and a few days later, we started training on the air," she said.
"It's not part of our education, and we don’t receive any academic credit for it either. It's a paid job where we have our own scheduled hours," she added.
"This experience is going to help me a lot in the future. I started out as an on-air personality, and after a few months, I also began working on the social media side. Currently, I'm both an on-air personality and the social media manager -- I've taken on the role of managing the station's social media platforms," said Angie. "In addition, I'm doing my internship in the Communications and Marketing department for Athletics. Everything I'm doing is closely related to what I want to pursue in the future, which is working in social media for a major university or a professional team in the NBA or soccer. I plan on staying here in the United States to pursue my career."
Angie's shifts vary from week to week, mainly because of her work on social media. "But when I am on air, it's usually in the afternoon, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.," she said.
When asked what she appreciates most about her job, Angie replied, "At this point, I've gained a lot of valuable experience, but one of the best moments was when I went to the airport to take some shots of Spencer and Eli, two of our other on-air personalities. I really enjoyed it because Blake let me take the lead, and I felt confident being in control. They followed my direction, and that made me really happy.
"My biggest challenge has been starting to speak on the radio in a language that isn’t my first. It was tough at first, but over time I got used to it, and now I feel much more comfortable," she continued. Over time, you get confident speaking on the air. I think Isa and I have been managing it really well — I honestly feel like both of our English has improved."
As far as what she loves to play on the air, Angie said, "Everything by Billie Eilish sounds great!"
Isabella ("Isa") Llano Calle, from Colombia — where she competed in horseback riding — also plays on the DSU tennis team and is majoring in International Business.
"I’m studying International Business, and I know the communication and public speaking skills I’ve developed through radio will be very useful in my future career," continued Isa, whose shifts vary from day to day. "It’s taught me how to express myself better and be more confident when speaking in front of others."
And even though the music played is programmed by Smith, Isa said, "I still get to enjoy sharing great songs and adding my own personality on air. I’ve also become a big Coldplay fan!"
Isa said her best experiences so far at The Trail have been learning programming and understanding how everything works behind the scenes. "It’s been so interesting to see how much goes into making an on-air shift run smoothly," she said. "The biggest challenge was definitely at the beginning, when I was learning how to use the board. I was scared of pressing the wrong button and accidentally stopping the live broadcast!"
Dealing with a second language as an on-air personality was another challenge for Isa — but one she believed she’s overcome.
"At first, it was really hard for me. Speaking live in English made me nervous, but over time I became more comfortable and confident. The radio work has definitely helped me improve my English and express myself more naturally," she said.
Emma Greene, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri and a member of DSU’s swim team, had a different entry into becoming a member of The Trail team.
"I became an on-air personality with The Trail after learning about the station from a professor that I had in a publications class. I met with Blake to discuss the expectations and requirements for the job and, after that, I was able to start working as both an on-air personality and a writer for various social media stories," she said.
"I feel that the experience that I have had working for the station has helped me get more comfortable with public speaking, which will benefit my future job as an educator. I will also use the experience I have gotten through writing social media stories since my degree will be in English Education," said Emma.
"I’m a member of the Women’s swim team, an academic tutor, and a part of the student senate, so my schedule varies quite a bit, depending on when I have time to come in," said Emma about her on-air time. "I am always at the station on Thursday mornings, and record on-air shifts whenever time allows.
"The best experience for me at The Trail has been learning how to do something that I had no prior knowledge of. It was a fun challenge to figure out how to work the radio equipment and talk about the music while on-air. The biggest challenge was probably learning how to talk about the music in the correct way for a radio station. It definitely took lots of practice!" she said.
Emma said her favorite music to play on-air is "Kyoto" by Phoebe Bridgers and anything from Fleetwood Mac.
For more information, or to learn how to support The Trail, visit the station’s Facebook page at 88.1 WDSW The Trail where you can also follow Angie, Isa, and Emma.
