Your hometown radio station has once again been honored as the best in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Association of Broadcasters named 97.9 The Hill WCHL as its 2025 Non-Metro Station of the Year Wednesday at its annual awards luncheon. The award is given to the top station outside of large and medium-sized markets in North Carolina and recognizes the station’s work from the 2024 calendar year. WCHL, which operates as part of the Chapel Hill Media Group has now won the award nine consecutive times dating back to 2016.

“This recognition belongs to our entire team,” says Chapel Hill Media Group general manager Aubrey Williams, “from the hosts behind the mic to the staff and partners who bring our mission to life every day. To win NCAB’s Station of the Year nine years running speaks to the consistency, creativity, and community spirit that define Chapel Hill Media Group. A huge thanks to the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters for this incredibly meaningful recognition.”

L-R: 97.9 The Hill’s Heather Wilson, Jada Jarillo, Kenny Dike and Jon Gregory at the 2025 NCAB Awards Luncheon in Raleigh.

97.9 The Hill has a history of winning other distinctions with the NCAB Awards Program. The Radio Community Involvement Award is given to the one station that contributes the most to a community’s well-being through its operations, events, and efforts to give back — and WCHL earned this honor for three consecutive years when the award was introduced. Additionally, the station has seen its morning show anchors earn the NCAB Non-Metro Personality of the Year award. Ron Stutts earned the recognition in 2015, 2015, 2018, and 2019 — while “This Morning With Aaron Keck” host Aaron Keck earned the title in 2021 and 2022.

The NCAB Awards Program is sponsored annually by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters and aims to recognize outstanding achievement by North Carolina radio and television broadcasters, while encouraging high standards of reporting, community service and production creativity. Additional station awards can be found on NCAB’s website.

To see a list of past honors won by 97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com, visit our Trophy Case page.

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