KPGZ Awards Annual Chaston Scholarship

KPGZ Radio presented its annual scholarship to honor their long-time weather director Pete Chaston on Monday, May 6. The $500 scholarship was awarded to Kearney High School senior Taylor James.

KPGZ Board Member Stacie Bratcher presented Taylor James with the Pete Chaston Memorial Scholorship

102.7FM KPGZ Board Vice President Stacie Bratcher presented the scholarship to James at Kearney High School’s scholarship awards ceremony. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must submit an audio or video recording of their broadcast work and want to have a career in meteorology or broadcast journalism.

 “The Board of Directors have chosen Taylor as the recipient of the Pete Chaston Memorial Scholarship. Congratulations and best wishes for your future success,” said Bratcher.

James has been accepted to the University of Oklahoma where he plans on studying Broadcasting this fall. After college he wants to become a professional announcer.

“My plans for the future are to pursue a career in broadcasting because I have been heavily involved in it for the past 3 years at Kearney High School,” James told KPGZ News. “I plan on pursuing a degree related to broadcast journalism because of the impact many advisers and other people have impacted me.”

Chaston, who was KPGZ’s Weather Director and Sunday afternoon doo-wop show host, died Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Liberty Hospital. He was 78 years old. KPGZ started this memorial fund after they received several emails and phone calls for information about donating to a Chaston Memorial.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story