(Lakewood, WA—December 12, 2005) – KVTI 90.0, the student operated, non-commercial radio station at Clover Park Technical College (CPTC), has won a second national 2005 New Music Award. The New Music Awards, hosted by New Music Weekly (NMW), is recognized as one of the premier music award ceremonies in the radio and music industry.

Beth Valiant, KVTI Music Director, won the 2005 New Music Award for ‘Best Music Director’ in a ‘Top 40’ category defeating professional music directors from across the country. In 2004, Beth won the same award for ‘Best Music Director’ and this year’s win marks the first time a former CPTC instructor and student won the award two-years in a row.

“I am happy to have won for a second time and I know this award means a lot to the station and our radio program at Clover Park,” said Valiant. “But I am hoping KVTI gets a ‘best station’ nomination next year. I think that will really set a statement in the music industry.”

KVTI 90.9 has developed into one of the most popular non-commercial, college-operated radio stations between Seattle and Centralia. KVTI ranks 5th out of 20 non-commercial radio stations in Western Washington, and reaches 50,000 listeners a week.

John Mangan, KVTI Program Director and CPTC Radio Broadcasting Instructor, says KVTI is successful because he and Beth manage the station in the same method professional stations are operated. Students enrolled in CPTC’s Radio Broadcasting program earn real-world experience that’s hard to find in other college-based stations in Pierce County.

“Students enrolled in our radio program are expected to work as professionals would work in a commercially-operated station,” said Mangan. “That means our students are receiving the type of experience they need to have successful careers.”