Utah Public Radio celebrated its 70th anniversary with a ribbon-cutting. The symbolic ceremony was attended by an assortment of UPR listeners, donors, and local officials. The anniversary event coincided with the station’s annual fall membership and fundraising drive.
Operating from Utah State University’s campus since 1953, UPR is a part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at USU and reaches listeners not only in Utah but also in southern Idaho.
Managed by co-managers Kerry Bringhurst and Tom Williams, the station originally started as a student-run 10-watt service named “Voice of the State College” (KVSC) in 1953. It underwent several transformations, including name changes and signal boosts. By 1972, the station had joined NPR as an affiliate, further expanding its reach and impact.
The 70-year milestone comes at a time when UPR is part of a larger network, including affiliations with National Public Radio (NPR), Public Radio International (PRI), and American Public Media (APM).
