The story of WVSH begins with McCabe “Pop” Day, who started his teaching career in the Huntington schools in 1921, just one year after the first commercial radio station went on the air in the United States. The new medium might have captivated the young teacher, but it would be another 25 years before he brought radio to Huntington, creating a legacy of community service and an educational platform for countless students that has endured now for 75 years.

In 1946, Day began teaching audio-visual arts, and in 1950, he launched WVSH radio — the Voice of the Schools of Huntington. Many of the students who went through the program have gone on to pursue careers in media or the audio-visual arts, with alumni working behind microphones in radio, in front of cameras in television, in newspaper newsrooms, and behind the scenes in broadcast technology or administration.

WVSH’s programming has always been diverse, broadcasting sporting events, live election coverage, music shows, educational and community service programs, and dramatic productions. The station has brought everything from state championship games to presidential campaigns into Huntington homes.

WVSH first went on the air on January 1, 1950, with a 10-watt transmitter, making it the second high school station to broadcast in Indiana. Programming initially ran for just an hour each day, and the station’s first significant broadcast was a Huntington High School basketball game in the same month it launched.

Initially, there was no dedicated radio class. Instead, Day taught an audio-visual class, and Mrs. Wallace Patterson supervised the scriptwriting and announcers. Sports quickly became a major focus, with the station broadcasting every Huntington High School football and boys' basketball game.

In 1953, WVSH expanded its broadcasting schedule to include Sunday community programs and a Saturday morning disc-jockey music request show called “It’s All Yours.” The station moved into a new high school annex in 1954, thanks to a $2,000 console donated by the Class of 1954. Broadcasting expanded to five hours a day, and by 1960, WVSH had become one of the best-equipped student stations in the country, boasting multiple studios, a control room, and connections to various parts of the school for remote broadcasts.

By 1963, the station was operated by 25 student announcers and engineers and was producing programming for Huntington’s local commercial station, WHLT. When “Pop” Day retired in 1965 after 15 years as station manager and 43 years as a teacher, WVSH was already well-established. Richard DeFore took over as manager and guided the station through school consolidation and into a new high school building. The consolidation allowed WVSH to increase its wattage, extending its reach across the entire county.

Throughout the 1960s, the number of students participating in the radio workshop grew, with many passing the government-mandated FCC licensing exam. The station’s broadcasting hours extended from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., focusing on educational programs for grade schools, school activity updates, and community information. The station continued to air Viking sports and other community events.

In 1970, Huntington North High School received another equipment upgrade, including a United Press International teletype machine, which allowed student broadcasters to deliver up-to-the-minute news. Interviews with notable figures like NFL star Gale Sayers and broadcasting legend Chris Schenkel highlighted WVSH’s growing influence. The station also offered coverage of events like the Indianapolis 500.

WVSH continued to grow, and by 1972, there were more than 50 FCC-licensed students. The station’s programming expanded to include Shakespearean plays, a Saturday morning top music countdown show, and “Campaign Countdown,” a live debate between Huntington’s mayoral candidates. The station regularly provided live election night coverage.

Bill Walker took over station operations in 1974, launching dedicated radio classes and expanding opportunities for students. Under his guidance, WVSH students competed in state contests held by the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters, took trips to professional radio stations, and developed their own after-school radio shows. One popular program, “Christmas Around the County,” involved students recording choirs from local grade schools and broadcasting the concerts during the holiday season.

The 1990s brought challenges when the Huntington County Community School Corporation cut off funding to WVSH for one year. However, students organized a successful radiothon, raising enough funds to keep the station on the air and secure future funding. In 1994, WVSH added a video component with the advent of “HNHS Today,” a TV show broadcasting daily school announcements.

As the new millennium approached, WVSH’s equipment had become outdated after 25 years of use. A major upgrade in the early 2000s modernized the station, providing students with experience using current technology. Walker retired in 2007 after 33 years, leaving behind a legacy of alumni who went on to careers in media and audio-visual arts. Some have worked for on-air media from ESPN to CNN as well as a number of radio stations across the country and even as on-air meteorologists. Others have become operation managers, news directors, newspaper journalists or technical experts for major television networks.

Walker’s successor, WVSH alum Nick Altman, continues to expand the program while providing opportunites and experiences for students. Advancements in technology have meant an ongoing evolution in broadcast methods and content delivery. The station was made available online in 2007, and home basketball and football games are now livestreamed. WVSH incorporates such online vehicles as YouTube and social media to deliver content. Mobile and digital technology allows for more real-time delivery.

Today, WVSH remains a pioneering force, embracing new technologies and evolving broadcast methods while staying true to McCabe Day’s original mission of providing an educational platform for students and serving the community as the Voice of the Schools of Huntington.