Tune in for History: SSU's Iconic WHCJ-FM Celebrates 50 Years

Oct. 21, 2025 – Savannah State University’s beloved public radio station, WHCJ-FM (90.3 FM), is marking a milestone in 2025: 50 years of continuous broadcasting. To commemorate this half-century of sound and service, the station is hosting an Open House and celebration for the entire campus and community on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from noon to 5 p.m.

Scheduled during the Homecoming Week, the Open House offers an opportunity for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the public to reconnect with the station and celebrate its rich history. The afternoon will shine a spotlight on WHCJ’s enduring impact and honor the dedicated individuals who have shaped its legacy over the past five decades. Guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while walking down memory lane.

“For 50 years, WHCJ has been the voice of Savannah State University, serving as a cultural cornerstone for Savannah State and the greater Savannah community,” said Grace Curry, WHCJ-FM Station Manager. “This anniversary is not just a celebration of our success, but a recognition of the enduring power of college and public radio to connect, educate, and inspire. We are thrilled to open our doors and share this special day with everyone who has been a part of our journey.”

The HBCU Radio Preservation Project will be part of WHCJ’s celebration as it returns over 250 hours of recorded sound from the station. The preserved materials being returned consist of digitized audio of unique and original programs that aired on WHCJ over the years. Since it began working with WHCJ as one of its five pilot stations in 2022, the HBCU RPP has collected a total of 384 audio artifacts.

Founding director of the HBCU RPP, Jocelyn Robinson, explains that “the digitized audio from WHCJ preserves the sounds of the community served since the station went on the air. The rich history of WHCJ is also reflected in seven oral history interviews we conducted with individuals with deep and long-standing ties to WHCJ. We are thrilled to be returning these materials to WHCJ and Savannah State University because this audio represents an important part of Georgia’s diverse and dynamic history. And it further ensures that the state’s Black and HBCU radio history will not be lost to the impact of time.”

First licensed in 1975 under the leadership of then-SSU President Dr. Prince A. Jackson, Jr., WHCJ-FM began as a 10-watt educational public radio station. It quickly established its mission to provide educational and cultural programming not available elsewhere in the Savannah area.

Today, the station remains committed to its unique format, which includes a diverse mix of news, public affairs, and various musical genres, including Jazz, Gospel, Blues, and Reggae.

Registration is required to attend the open house. For more information and to register, please visit https://savannahstate.edu/whcj/whcj-50th-anniversary/.

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About Savannah State University
Established in 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public Historically Black college or University in Georgia and the first institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. Students select majors from 30 undergraduate and four graduate programs in five colleges — Business Administration, Education, Sciences and Humanities, Engineering Technology and Computing, and Media, Arts and Communication. For more information, visit savannahstate.edu.

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