Benson High School
546 NE 12th Ave
Portland
OR
97232
(503)-916-5100
Summer Sound
Summer Sound
Summer Sound Job Program Information
Summer Sound is a high-school student job program hosted by AM 1450 KBPS on the campus of Benson Polytechnic High School. Summer Sound students receive an opportunity to be hired and receive modern-day experiences revolving around communication and radio broadcasting. Summer Sounders gain experience in news casting, speaking, editing, interviewing, and more!
The KBPS Summer Sound Program Student Staff works to ensure live on-air broadcasting of news and weather information, community events, and Portland Public School District information on AM 1450 and the KBPS online web stream. The mission of the Summer Sound program is to inform listeners first, and entertain them second. Students work together as a team to find and rewrite news stories for broadcast on-air. Produce content to broadcast on-air and publish on the KBPS website and social media outlets. Especially news that can help teens with jobs and/or job alternatives, like volunteer opportunities in the Portland area, and local events. Cover stories that major media miss. Help find and conduct interviews to broadcast on-air. Helps build partnerships between KBPS and the local community. Prior live-broadcasting experience and audio production experience required. Must know all FCC broadcast regulations and follow them. Hourly legal IDs, Daily Program logs are filled out and signed, and no offensive language is broadcast. Be a team player. Be enthusiastic!
KBPS Broadcasting students at Benson, and other Journalism students at Portland-area high schools in good academic standing are encouraged to apply to be a part of KBPS Summer Sound. Contact KBPS Instructor Jacob Patterson jacpatterson@pps.net or KBPS Operations Manager Richard Kinoshita rkinoshita@pps.net for more information. Doing some volunteer shifts at KBPS to learn broadcasting basics may be required to participate. Here is an example KBPS Summer Sound Job Application.
Listen to KBPS Summer Sound 2025 News here
Summer Sound 2025 Interviews
Singer and Songwriter - Amelia Day
Benson High School Spanish Teacher - Laura Arias
Owner and Head Butcher of Proletariat Butchery - Zeph Shepard
Wife of KBPS Alumn Scott Tom - Adele Tom
Bricks and Minifigs Events Manager Jay Naguit
Singers from Thee Holy Brothers Marvin Etzioni and Willie Aron
Performing at Music Millennium's Annual Customer Appreciation BBQ Concert, Singer Milo Binder
Public Programs and Exhibits Manager of Oregon Black Pioneers, Mariah Rocker
Vice President of Content at The Oregonian and OregonLive, Laura Gunderson
Owner of Music Millennium Terry Currier
Independent Songwriter and Grant High School Student Gus Jeffers
Former Sports Editor Austin White
Broadcasting Director and Producer for the Portland Pickles and Portland Bangers FC Malichi Roberts
Recently Competing in the Portland Pickles All-Stars Baseball Team, YouTube Personality UTree
Recently Competing in the 2025 Youth Nationals in Beaverton and Franklin HS Grad - Charlotte Wylde
Singer from Charlotte, North Carolina - Bryan Bielanski
Singer/Songwriter and Portland Winterhawks Public Address Announcer - Michael Burles
Summer Sound Request Line
The Summer Sound Student Staff wants to hear from you! Call in your song requests and comments at 503-916-KBPS (5277)
Wednesday Theme Days
Summer Sound Students vote on specific music themes for our "Wednesday Theme Days." Please keep song requests on Wednesdays within the scheduled themes below:
JUNE 25, 2025: "PRIDE" - JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH! FEATURING LGBTQ+ ARTISTS AND SONGS
JULY 9, 2025: ALL WOMEN WEDNESDAY FEATURING FEMALE MUSICIANS
JULY 16, 2025: HOT MUSIC
JULY 23, 2025: NEW SONGS
JULY 30, 2025: ROCK
AUGUST 6, 2025: LOVE
AUGUST 13, 2025: BRAT
