The year was 1982. The Falkland Islands were battered by war, AT&T agreed to divest itself and the Rubiks Cube World Championships occurred in Budapest, Hungary. And West Virginia University commenced broadcast operations from the student-run radio station WWVU -FM, known better as U92 .

Now 25 years later, the station is marking the milestone with an alumni reunion weekend Oct. 12-14 which includes a special concert, panel discussion and private banquet. Former disc jockeys, production managers, sound engineers and news and sports reporters have been invited back to Morgantown to relive their days on the air and visit with old friends.

But the celebration surrounding the event will be less about marking the stations duration on air and more about recognizing the people who have worked behind the microphone over the years. For Station Director Kim Harrison, the occasion of alumni staff returning to town represents an opportunity to share ideas and advice with the students currently running the station.

The weekend is a chance for the alumni to share what they learned from working here and how they have applied that in their careers,she said.The organizational, management and technical skills they learned while working at the station have helped launch many successful careers in broadcasting, journalism and music production. Its important to share that with the staff so they can see the opportunities that come from the work we do here. It puts a face on this idea we call U92 .

U92 employees have gone on to work at countless broadcast operations across the country including ESPN , XM Satellite Radio and the European equivalent, WorldSpace Satellite Radio.

For Patrick Ferrise, the time he invested in U92 in the late 1980s as music director helped cultivate an impressive career in radio programming and audio production. Ferrise, who now owns his own digital media company, has worked on projects for XM Satellite Radio, MTV , leading radio stations and numerous nonprofit organizations, and has been recognized for his work by Rolling Stone Magazine. He feels that the opportunities the station provided him, helped develop his interests and skills.

U92 has always run just like a professional radio station, so as a staffer you experience the real-world aspects of programming, reporting and production,Ferrise said.During my years there, I was able to meet industry people, entertainers and develop an awareness of the behind the scenes action of radio. I was lucky enough to work with and learn from some absolutely amazing people.

Current U92 Music Director Rupam Sofsky agrees that the opportunity to network with industry professionals is an important benefit of working at the station.

Id like to hear about their (alumni) experiences and tastes, but also their fondest memories of U92 and WVU ,he said.As a music director who is already excited about what I do, being even further inspired to do our best will be fun. Many alumni have high positions across the country. I believe the most important benefit to me is simply to meet them.

For many of the returning staff, the highlight of the weekends events will be the opportunity to get back on the air. Beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, DJ alumni will staff the studio booth and spin their favorite tunesalthough the albums of the 80s have now given way to digital file downloads. That night, former sports broadcasters will help host the stationsSportspageprogram at 9 p.m. to discuss current issues in the world of sports.

Harrison has a standing rule at the station that former employees can visit the station and get on the air whenever they are in townplaying any music they would like.

I usually get taken up on that offer a couple of times each year,she said.Its a special privilege that everyone who has worked here can use. I think they enjoy reliving their glory days on air. Some play music from the �€~80s, and some like to use newer material.

Also on Friday evening, the group will attend the U92 25th Anniversary Show at 123 Pleasant Street performed by hometown rockers 63 Eyes and 85 Flood. A standard of the Morgantown music scene in the late �€~80s and early �€~90s, 63 Eyes performs only occasionally these days. The members of the band are friends of the stationas many local bands areand will take to the stage especially for the anniversary occasion. The show is open to the public and begins at 10 p.m.

When asked about the impact the station has had on the University community over the years, Harrison said that things have changed. In years past, there was a great deal of focus on cutting edge music and providing listeners with their first exposure to new bands. Although still important today, the needs of the industry have changed the focus at the station to more news and sports broadcasting.

Our employees have been able to parlay their experience here into jobs after school in the news industry,she said.I think its a combination of the high quality of student coming from the School of Journalism, the increased number of venues employing broadcasters, and the experience we can provide here at the station. Students understand that you cant just walk into MSNBC and get a job. But they can have a serious advantage if their resume can show experience in broadcasting.

Sofsky feels that the station provides an important role for the University community.

College is about growth, new ideas and an expansion of what we knew as children,he said.U92 is important to WVU and its students because theres not only a wealth of new ideas going out over our airwaves on a daily basis, but also because students at WVU are given the opportunity to share their ideas through us.

The station has received recognition for its work over the years including several first-place awards from the West Virginia Associated Press Association. 2007 graduate Frank Thorpe also won a West Virginia Associated Press Best Reporter for Radio award for a series of news broadcasts earlier this year. Most recently, the station has been nominated forStation of the Yearfrom the College Music Journal (the winner will be announced at an Oct. 18 ceremony).

Its not awards that define who we are and what we do here; its the people,Harrison said.The students that run the station, choose the music, report the news and cover the sports for the WVU campus define what the station is.