July 24, 2018 marked the one-year anniversary of the unexpected passing of Peter Wright. Peter was, among many other things, one of the earliest and most enthusiastic program producers at 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio.
Peter was a 1992 graduate of Sun Prairie High School and was so excited about the news that Sun Prairie was to be awarded its own radio station that he came to the SPMC several times before the station was even built, so excited was he to get on the air. He went on the air with his first show, “The Americana Hour,” in August 2015, and consistently volunteered right up until about three days before he passed. Peter was also a huge advocate and promoter of the station and worked with local organization Red Latina to produce the SPMC’s first bi-lingual radio program.
In his honor, the Sun Prairie Media Center created “The Peter Wright Scholarship,” which seeks to provide the opportunity for a Sun Prairie High School student or recent graduate to learn everything about the radio station of which Peter was so passionate. The person awarded the scholarship will receive a $500 stipend to spend six weeks working and learning at the Sun Prairie Media Center.
The Sun Prairie Media Center is pleased to announce that the winner of its inaugural “Peter Wright Scholarship” has been named: David Updike, a recent SPHS graduate and former KIDS-4 crew participant, is spending time learning how to produce and host radio programs, how to do live remote broadcasts, how to edit shows, how to interview, and even some promotional and marketing work.
Episodes of David’s original talk/music radio program, entitled “Drive Safe,” are available for listening at the 103.5 on demand page (at sunprairiemediacenter.com) or on the free 103.5 apps available through the App Store or Google Play.
Financing for the first “Peter Wright Scholarship” came, appropriately enough, from Peter Wright’s parents William and Pamela.
If you know of an existing SPHS student who would be a deserving recipient of the next Peter Wright Scholarship — or if that someone is you! — please call the Media Center at 608-837-4193 or e-mail Jeff Robbins at jrobbins@cityofsunprairie.com.