Zahra Faruqui
KBPS has cemented itself as a rich and vital part of Benson’s history, and this couldn’t have been possible without its exceptional student leadership. One shining example of this is KBPS Senior Elizabeth Larrison, this year’s Chief of Staff.
One of the “coolest opportunities” Larrison detailed as Chief traces back to September, “a couple of us were able to go to the Best Day Ever Festival, and interview Aminé.” Aminé is a Portland based rapper, and KBPS alum.
“Three current Benson seniors and three Benson alums who received the Amine scholarships last year got to go. And it was really cool.”
Despite her clear affinity for her current major, it wasn’t her original choice. “When I first came to Benson, I wanted to be a Digital Media major. I didn’t really know anything about radio. It seemed cool, but that wasn’t something I knew Benson had.”
Then, after getting a chance to go on air, everything changed. “A lot of kids were spending a lot of time in that on-air room, and I got invited to go on. And I remember I got to read the weather and it was really fun. It was really scary, but it was really fun, and it was like– all I wanted to do for the rest of time.”
Larrison also listed several of her aspirations for this year. She hopes to have a presence at events such as 8th-grade informational night, aiding recruitment. One of her greatest goals is to ensure the program’s survival, “if a class continually has only like five or six kids, maybe they’re not going to continue funding that class.” The current senior class has six students.
“I think one of my biggest goals is getting the Freshmen and Sophomores more involved, so they kind of get a feel for it before they have to choose.”
She also aims to increase the involvement of students district-wide, citing the fact the radio station aims to serve all of PPS. “I know we have a couple of student sportscasters from other schools. I believe we have one from Ida B. Wells, and we have a couple songs in the music library from students at Grant or other high schools. I think it would be great to see more student journalists from other schools submitting their news stories as podcasts to be played on air.”
A core part of the legacy that Larrison wants to leave behind is found in professionalism. “I try to be professional when I can be, and I think a lot of high schoolers maybe don’t think about that as much.” Larrison expresses the importance of not only treating KBPS as a high school class, but as a radio station you have a true role in.
“… it’s important to present yourself and that station well, not only for your own personal reputation, but also just to represent what a Benson student, a KBPS student, is supposed to look like.”