WUKY Invites Local Schools to Participate in NPR’s 2021 Student Podcast Challenge

NPR "Student Podcast Challenge" digital flyer on pink background
NPR's Student Podcast Challenge is back for its third year, and is open for submissions until March 15, 2021.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2021)  It's that time of year — new semester, new assignments, new Student Podcast Challenge. NPR's Student Podcast Challenge is back for its third year and is open for submissions.

WUKY will once again host local schools for brainstorming sessions and “how-to” advice on getting started with podcasts. The challenge is aimed at students between fifth and 12th grades, and NPR Ed will provide a series of suggested prompts and a guide for student podcasters and their teachers. NPR’s hope is to generate excellent material from around the country, as well as provide a chance to add youth voices into the national conversation.

The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2021, and WUKY will host "how-to" sessions later this month.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for young people to learn about podcasting, interviewing, journalism and editing from seasoned, award-winning professionals at WUKY,” said WUKY General Manager Tom Godell. “And we look forward to seeing more Central Kentucky schools receive recognition from NPR in the spring!”

Last year, five Lexington area schools brought students to the WUKY studios to learn the ins and outs of podcasting from News Director Alan Lytle and reporter Arlo Barnette. One group from Woodford County Middle School won an honorable mention from NPR. 

Because of COVID restrictions, sessions this year will be held via Zoom Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon. Instructors who are interested in having their students participate live or watch the archive version of the session should contact WUKY's Godell before Jan. 20 at tom.godell@uky.edu

Students will create a podcast about a topic they want to explore — and that can be just about anything. Only students in grades five-12 are eligible to enter, and a teacher, after-school program coordinator, parent or adult over the age of 18 must submit the podcast.

For more details and challenge requirements, please visit www.wuky.org/2021-student-podcast-challenge#stream/0.

WUKY is a community-supported service of the University of Kentucky which provides high-quality news, cultural and entertainment content through the use of existing and emerging media to create a more informed and engaged community.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.