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WRST-FM, the radio station on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week with an open house on Friday and Saturday. The studios are on the fourth floor of the Arts and Communication Center on the UWO campus.  

WRST is the oldest FM station in Oshkosh, and went on the air April 20, 1966 with only 10 watts of power and a schedule of four and a half hours each weekday. The original broadcast facility was a converted lumber company office on the edge of campus. From the outset, the station’s purpose was provide training to students interested in media careers while at the same time, give listeners in the area a radio service that is complimentary to other radio offerings.  

Today, the station operates 24/7 with student-produced music, news and sports programming along with programs from Wisconsin Public Radio. The station is also heard worldwide through internet streaming at wrst.org.

The station has won regional, national and even international awards over the years and thousands of UWO students have benefitted from their involvement at WRST. Station alumni are in media careers from coast to coast.

To mark its 50th birthday, WRST commissioned a special poster from Hatch Show Print in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1879, the firm uses hand-carved wood block type for its posters and is well-known for the posters it produces for country music artists. Posters with the WRST design can be purchased during the open house.

Hours of the open house are 3 until 7 p.m. Friday, April 22 and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, April 23. Station tours will be provided and refreshments are available.

Parking is available on Algoma Boulevard and Vine Street near the facility.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to contribute calendar items, campus announcements and other good news to UW Oshkosh Today.