By Joe Vickrey
Photos Courtesy of Alpine School District/Pleasant Grove High School
Since 1976, KPGR 88.1 FM has been a pillar of Utah County’s music culture. Pleasant Grove High School’s own radio station has given countless students a wealth of experience in the realm of radio broadcasting, and generations of students have been able to share their favorite music with the larger community as a result of it. On top of the already impressive student-run radio programs of KPGR, PG High is also home to The Pig Pen – a makeshift venue which has hosted over 500 bands since its opening in 2007.
One of the countless students who was impacted by the radio program was none other than Russ Mayo. Russ was a student DJ from 1996-1998 and was the Station Student Manager his senior year. Flash forward to 2001: Russ started subbing in as the teacher for the Student Radio Program, and eventually took over as the teacher in 2003. Russ has shared his enthusiasm and love for the station with his students ever since.
Scans from the 1996 Pleasant Grove High School yearbook
Anyone who has met Russ can probably vouch for the fact that he radiates with an excitement for the work he’s involved in. “The thing that surprises me the most about running a student-run radio station is that someone in the 1970s thought it was a good idea to give teenagers a voice on live FM radio. I am so glad they did.” We are too!
Russ continued, “I’ve seen 4 decades of student disc jockeys and I am still a huge fan of what they have to say. I am very proud of them and proud that Alpine School District took a chance on these students and have seen 50 years of student development through communications, technical work, and social growth.”
As KPGR enters its 50th year, there’s currently a whopping 26 after-school disc jockeys who have 90-minute radio shows once a week on KPGR; manage the live high school sports streaming of PGSN; host KPGR Film Festivals; and put on the all-student-run Pig Pen shows. Russ’s biggest challenge is that there isn’t more of him to go around. Russ said, “There is so much more I want to offer my students, but my time is stretched and my first priority is to be a husband and a father.”
A scans from the 2017 Pleasant Grove High School yearbook
As if Mr. Mayo doesn’t seem busy enough already, he still finds time to start his day with a run before class. Running at 4:30 AM probably isn’t most people’s ideal start to the day, but it gets Russ ready for his daily marathon of classes.
“I am so lucky to have been given the opportunity to run this radio station. I am lucky to have administration at Pleasant Grove High School who have supported me and my students throughout all our ambitions over the past 20 plus years. I love what I do. I love being surrounded by the coolest people on this planet who never disappoint.” Russ’s joy for what he does feels contagious.
As a fellow fan of the student-run radio stations here in Utah County, I’d also like to chime in that I’m always excited to learn about new artists from KPGR as well. My wife and I frequently talk about songs we heard on the air as well as DJ segments that might’ve been particularly entertaining. We’d personally like to thank Russ, Alpine School District, and, of course, the student DJs for all of their hard work to make KPGR such a wonderful part of our music scene. Here’s to the next 50 years!
Make sure to follow KPGR on Instagram. Afternoon All Night headlined the most recent Pig Pen show. You can stream their song “California” below!