WPRK 91.5 FM back on the air after Hurricane Irma damage

Rollins College’s student-run radio station, 91.5 FM, returned to the airwaves on Friday — its first radio broadcast since Hurricane Irma damaged an antenna and tower about 11 months ago, the Winter Park school announced.

While unable to broadcast via radio waves after the storm, the station continued to pump out shows during the interruption via the internet and its website, wprk.org.

The 1,300-watt station’s return to radio airwaves was expected to occur months ago but was complicated by nesting bald eagles, which occupied a tower where the station’s new antenna was to be installed.

In an email, the private liberal-arts college praised the efforts of students and staff, making special mention of student station managers Syd Rock and Nic Colarossi and Micki Meyer, Rollins’ assistant vice president for student affairs-community.

“Thanks to them all, we will again fulfill our promise to the community, to share independent music and thought, and raise under-heard voices for all,” the email said.

WPRK was founded at Rollins College in 1952, and its first broadcast was a message from President Dwight D. Eisenhower offering congratulations on the new station, according to an email from the college.

The station relies on more than 100 student volunteer DJs and staff to broadcast to the community.

WPRK operates from the Winter Park college’s campus, providing educational experiences for students from different areas of study.