WDOT is hosting a Radiothon for the first time in four years. The 24-hour broadcast will include the first ever variety show at Schreiber, featuring battles between teachers and students, dunk tanks, White Castle, and even a celebrity guest.
The 24 -hour-long broadcast will start at 9 a.m. on Feb. 24. Throughout the school day, WDOT student DJs will host shows. From 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Mar. 1, seniors Debbie Oyarzun and Benny Scheckner will anchor the broadcast.
“I’m excited to see DJs express themselves in creative ways and entertain the masses. I’m excited for students who don’t know much about radio to learn more about it,” said Mr. Jeremy Klaff.
The centerpiece of the whole event, the “Schreiber Slam,” will take place in the gym starting at 7 p.m. The Slam will be a variety show hosted by “Radio King” Scheckner and “Radio Queen” Oyarzun with events featuring teachers, students, and a celebrity guest. The event will also have music, food, and the element of surprise. Because nothing like this has ever happened at Schreiber before, many students do not know what to expect.
“I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen. We’re probably in for a lot of surprises,” said senior Emily Lipstein, who has bought a ticket to The Schreiber Slam.
“We’ve never had an event like this in Schreiber’s history and I know for a fact if people don’t go, they’re going to regret it. I’m positive this event will go down in Schreiber history,” said Oyarzun.
The show will include the Schreiber Eating Championship, which will be between professional competitive eater Crazy Legs Conti, health teacher Ms. Jeanine Kalinowski and social studies teacher Mr. Petro Macrigiane; a fight between senior Nathan Lefcowitz and Mr. Macrigiane; and a fight between Mr. Matina and Scheckner. The show will also feature a rap battle with rapper N3ffkiid (senior Antonio Cox), a dunk tank with Assistant Principal Mr. Craig Weiss, music, cookies, and cake.
“I promise there will be no vegetables,” said Scheckner.
The station has held this event in the past, though not on this scale.
“The idea of doing the 24-hour broadcast is a WDOT tradition that just sort of fell off the grid for some reason. I’ve been committed to the station for a long time now, and if I’m going out, I want to go out with a bang,” said Scheckner.
Mr. Klaff and Scheckner conceived the idea for the show a few months ago. Oyarzun and Scheckner have led the planning efforts with help from Mr. Klaff and other DJs.
“A lot of other people have been truly incredible in the planning of this thing. Not Mr. Matina. I’ll say that,” said Scheckner.
WDOT has filmed and released several preview videos on the WDOT Schreiber YouTube channel in the past few weeks, which have already received hundreds of views each.
“People should expect to be surprised. Nobody but a couple of people know how this whole thing is going to play out. We’ve given out a little bit of information, and made it seem like a lot. People are going to be walking in knowing less of what’s going to happen than they think,” said Scheckner.
With the element of surprise still on their side, WDOT will continue to prep and plan down to every detail of that day.
“I don’t want to give too much away. The element of surprise is our greatest ally, but trust me when I say that you’ll see the work we put into the show immediately when you arrive,” said Scheckner. “I’ve been telling people that Justin Bieber will be at the show, which is a lie.”
WDOT plans to split proceeds between Piano for Patients, a non-profit organization founded by senior Nikki Egna, and the radio station.
“We’re not doing this for any other reason than to entertain people,” said Scheckner. “It’s nice to be raising the money for charity, and for the station, but what we really want is to see a huge crowd of people react to the absurdity that we present to them. I’m excited to see the school loosen up for one night of pure, unadulterated insanity. I think that’s something that we all need more than we think we do.”