2023 marks 15 years since KHOL first went on the airwaves from a windowless office space under Teton Barbershop. It was a grassroots beginning, with a handful of dedicated volunteers keeping the station afloat through dogged perseverance. Since then, KHOL has become a trusted source for in-depth reporting, music discovery and community programming that reflects the diversity of its listeners.
To celebrate this milestone KHOL called for nominations to recognize our local heroes– people here in Jackson Hole who make a difference in our community day in, day out.
Twenty-one people were nominated for these awards, some multiple times over by their peers.
KHOL’s Community Advisory Board reviewed nominations on May 18 and selected three finalists.
The winner will be announced on June 20 at KHOL’s 15-year anniversary celebration at the Center for the Arts.
The nominees were:
Andrew Munz, Anne Cresswell, Augusta Friendsmith, Charlotte Souter and Anna Knaeble, Chase Lockhart, Chris Kitchen, Florin Ion, Giovannina Anthony, Ian Johnston, Isabel Zumel, Jean Day, Jim Hesser, Johnny Ziem, Jonathan Schechter, KC Bess, Matt Hansen, Megan Jenkins, Randy Reedy, Susan Jones and Wren Fialka
These individuals were recognized for a host of contributions including “jumping out of helicopters to save people lost or injured” to “making sure our drinking water is safe,” for being “the mastermind behind many of the programs for youth, women and underserved communities,” for “keeping the music alive” and for “making seniors feel included and wanted.”
KHOL is producing short radio features on the three finalists, to be announced the week of June 12. These will be broadcast in the June 16th edition of Jackson Unpacked.
The winner of the Community Hero Award will be announced at our anniversary gala at the Center for the Arts on June 20.
