Upstairs in Founders Hall lies WQFS, Guilford College’s very own radio station. Founded back in 1965, WQFS has turned into a nationally recognized radio station and either a highlight of the campus or a hidden gem, depending on who you ask.

If you consider WQFS a highlight, you have probably tuned into 90.9 FM to enjoy the station’s free-flowing uniqueness. You might have even considered becoming a DJ.

“Students can contact Eli Philips or Gabe Pollak if they are interested in becoming a DJ,” said Kami Rowan, the faculty advisor of WQFS, in an email interview. “All that’s required are three 2-hour training sessions.”

It’s an easy process for such a rewarding opportunity. There are no other radio stations in the Triad that even come close to what WQFS offers.

Meanwhile, if you are a student who has not heard of WQFS, you are not to blame.

“Maybe (people don’t know about the station) because WQFS isn’t heavily advertised within the Guilford College community. Who knows why?” said Brian Bolling, Early College junior.

Whatever the reason, WQFS is a hidden gem that you should know about.

WQFS is not your average college radio station and is no stranger to being in the spotlight. The station has been able to hold a top-20 spot in the nationwide Princeton Review survey of college radio stations for over five years while earning the number 11th spot this year. News & Record even named WQFS the best college radio station in the Triad.

Even with this nationwide success, WQFS is still looking for ways to grow and become more popular.

“The number one goal of WQFS is to be more connected to not only Guilford College, but also to Greensboro,” said Rowan.

To achieve this, WQFS has held concerts on the Guilford campus including bringing in Rapsody, an artist who was featured on Kendrick Lamar’s latest album “To Pimp a Butterfly.”

One of WQFS’s greatest attributes is its classical approach to finding music. The way we find music today has been revolutionized by the Internet, but WQFS allows people to discover music the old fashion way. The radio station is not automated or block-formatted and has DJs constantly airing new and alternative music from almost every genre.

“WQFS is the last of a dying breed,” said Chef Dave, a WQFS disk jockey. “It’s a free- form, student-managed college radio station. If you tune in and you don’t like what you’re hearing, tune back in in two hours and something completely different will be on.”

Others agree.

“I feel that one of the best attributes of WQFS is its variety of music,” said Pratham Chhabria, an Early College Senior and frequent listener of the station. “WQFS has its own special charm unlike any other station.”

When looking to discover new music, WQFS is the way to go.

WQFS is a gift given to Guilford. It offers many opportunities for students while still allowing the students to run it. Whether by becoming a DJ, taking the class or just tuning in on 90.9 FM every night before they go to bed, students should find a way to be involved with the station.