This year, 97.9 The Hill WCHL received three awards from the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters: Station of the Year (Non-Metro), Personality of the Year (Non-Metro) for “The Aaron Keck Show” and the award for Radio Community Involvement – an inaugural award for which there was only one state-wide recipient.

“We are so honored to receive these three awards,” said Aubrey Williams, general manager of 97.9 The Hill WCHL. “We all know that 2020 was a beast of a year and this team showed up every single day to produce award-winning content. It is very validating to be recognized by our peers in the industry.”

The North Carolina Association of Broadcasters (NCAB) Awards Program is intended to recognize outstanding achievement by North Carolina radio and television broadcasters, while encouraging high standards of reporting, community service and production creativity.

“Each award is exciting for different reasons,” said Williams. “First, the Station of the Year award. This is a testament to the team of people here at 97.9 The Hill that works tirelessly for our community. For Personality of the Year, no one is more deserving than our own Aaron Keck. He is so smart, thoughtful, and prepared and he takes such good care of his listeners. This is a professional milestone for him, and we are thrilled to celebrate his success with him. And finally, the first ever Radio Community Involvement Award, of which there is only one. We are honored and humbled and it only inspires us to do more and be better.”

This year’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting were presented during the Annual Awards Lunch which was held virtually on October 26, 2021. Awards are based on projects first aired during the previous year.

The 2021 award marks the second consecutive Station of the Year given to 97.9 The Hill WCHL. The station earned the honor in 2019 and NCAB did not hold awards in 2020. Meanwhile, this is the sixth time the association has given Personality of the Year to 97.9 The Hill, with former morning show host Ron Stutts winning the award five times.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

Related Stories
‹
97.9 The Hill Named NCAB's 2025 Non-Metro Station of the Year
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 […]
97.9 The Hill Wins NC Station of the Year, Community Involvement Awards For Third Consecutive Year
For the third year in a row, the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters (NCAB) named 97.9 The Hill WCHL its Non-Metro Station of the Year and the winner of its statewide Community Involvement Award. The honors, which were announced on Thursday during the association’s annual Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting luncheon, are presented for the Chapel […]
97.9 The Hill Wins NC Station of the Year; Repeats 2 Additional Awards
Ron Stutts Named Two-Time Personality Of The Year
Stutts said.
UNC Falls in Another Heartbreaker vs. Virginia. Can They Get Over the Hump? — The Carolina Football Hour (Oct. 27, 2025)
UNC played another close game Saturday at Kenan Stadium, but again the Tar Heels fell inches short in a 17-16 overtime loss.
LISTEN: 97.9 The Hill WCHL's UNC Men's Basketball Season Preview
The Hill WCHL’s Andrew Stuckey, Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh and a host of special guests previewed the 2025-26 UNC men’s basketball season Friday ahead of the Tar Heels’ preseason exhibition game vs. No. 8 BYU. Topics discussed include Carolina’s roster overhaul during the offseason as well as a challenging non-conference schedule, and Stuckey, […]
97.9 The Hill to Debut New UNC Football Show This Season
The Hill, the flagship station for Tar Heel sports, is excited to announce the premiere of a new, exclusive football show airing this season. “The Carolina Football Hour on Franklin” will air its debut episode this coming Wednesday, August 27, at 6 p.m. The show will air weekly on Monday nights at 6 p.m. […]
97.9 The Hill WCHL to Remain the Flagship Station for Tar Heel Sports
The Hill WCHL has signed a new four-year contract with Learfield which will keep it as the flagship station for Tar Heel sports.
‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Moves in January-March 2025
The start of 2025 marked the beginning and end for several businesses in the Chapel Hill, Carrboro and broader Orange County community.
Photo Gallery: 97.9 The Hill's Road to the Rivalry Drawing Party
On Tuesday, January 21, 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com hosted the drawing party for its Wegmans Carolina Basketball Road to the Rivalry Giveaway presented by Boer Brothers Heating & Cooling at Bru’s Public House in Carrboro, gifting a lucky fan two tickets to the UNC men’s basketball game against Duke in the Dean Smith Center […]
›