THE STUDENT HOUR – KBPS on PRP

THE STUDENT HOUR – KBPS on PRP is a quarterly show featuring students from AM 1450 KBPS, the Portland Public Schools radio station at Benson Polytechnic High School. KBPS on PRP features locally focused content, new music, engaging interviews, interesting conversations, and KBPS students reporting on issues that matter to them. With its first broadcast in 1923, KBPS is the second oldest radio station in Portland. Benson High School Radio broadcasting students learn about the ins and outs of the broadcast industry and content creation while receiving hands-on experience with the KBPS radio station. You can learn more about the KBPS program at their website, kbps.am

KBPS Staff Bios – who makes all this magic happen:

Jacob Patterson is the KBPS Instructor and Executive Producer of KBPS on PRP. Jacob was the 2006 KBPS Student Chief of Staff and 2006 KBPS National SkillsUSA Gold Medalist. Jacob has worked for many local Portland stations, some nationally syndicated programs, and has created his own terrestrially syndicated programs. When Jacob isn’t busy in the recording studio or classroom, you’ll find him at the local bowling alley or taking his dog for a walk at the park or river.

• Elizabeth Larrison – Eli is the KBPS Senior Chief of Staff. She is very engaged in her school community. She is a lead editor for Benson High School’s Yearbook and a lead reporter for the school’s newspaper The Benson Orbit. She’s passionate about Outdoor School and has served as a counselor there many times. She also makes time to participate in the school’s Bowling Club and other extracurricular activities. Eli is a big fan of emo music with My Chemical Romance being one of her favorite bands.

• Nick Oates – Nick is the KBPS Chief of Music. Nick helps KBPS stay on top of new trending music, and doing special custom edits to songs so they meet FCC and PPS guidelines to broadcast on the school radio station. Nick is compassionate about the world of computers and software engineering. He does related work during the summer in places like California. Nick is a lead editor on the Benson newspaper The Orbit, and works on the school’s Yearbook team. Nick is one of the co-hosts of a very popular podcast on campus called “Basement Banter.”

• Grady Morgan – Grady is the KBPS Chief of Production. Grady actively participates in Benson’s Robotics club, helping design and build competitive robots that specialize in specific tasks. Grady helps assist with production duties at KBPS, including helping produce new content, student IDs and liners, and promotional materials on-air for the Benson radio station. Grady is passionate about the new Silk Song video game too.

• Jeff Martin – Jeff is the KBPS Chief of Promotions. Jeff is actively working to raise the number of followers on the KBPS Instagram page to over 1,000 to allow KBPS students to do live broadcasting and live streaming on the online platform. Jeff is an active member of Benson’s D&D Club and is passionate about Pokemon. Outside of school, Jeff works part time at a local grocery store chain and has worked there for a couple of years.

• Andy Perry – Andy is the imagining voice of The Student Hour. Andy is one of the top students in the KBPS senior class, often first to finish with their assignments and productions without ever sacrificing quality. Andy’s recent productions include pieces of “lost media” and family-friendly scary horror movies. Andy hopes for a future career in broadcasting communications and early childhood development.

• Louie Freeman – Louie is one of the creative geniuses of the KBPS senior production team with a very talented imagination and character voices. Louie is passionate about biology and did his Junior KBPS Final project podcast on ants. Louie has starred in recent promotion videos for the Yearbook team, and often flexs many different character voices including Kermit the Frog and the Spiderman villain Venom.

• Zahra Faruqui – Zahra currently has the most on-air minutes of any junior at AM 1450 KBPS, and is working hard towards being the next student Chief of Staff. Zahra is a PPS District Student Representative, President of Benson HS’s Activism Club, a member of the school’s Robotics team, and has been an award winner in the Poetry Slam competition. She is passionate about activism, communication, entertainment and wants to go to law school in college.

• Cayden Seligman – Cayden is a KBPS Sportscasting superstar and attends the weekly Sportscasting broadcasts of football games Friday nights on KBPS. Cayden plays for the Benson HS baseball team and is a fan of the Seattle Mariners. Cayden is a part of Benson’s BATS Club, The Benson Auditorium Technical Staff. They help assist with live event productions on school campus.

• Jude Boetzel – Jude is the only current Junior who served on the KBPS Summer Sound 2025 summer job program, working at the radio station throughout the summer. Jude is one of the most talented students in the class and often helps his peers in their live broadcasting and productions. Jude is passionate about classic rock music and plays electric bass in the school band program.

• Londyn Dyton – Londyn is another sports superstar in the KBPS junior class. Londyn has played on the Benson girls Varsity Basketball team for two years and is one of the most talented players on the court. Londyn is also a star in the classroom, often the first to get assignments completed, always helping her classmates out, and showing off that Benson Tech Pride school spirit.