Author: themorningthing

WNZR’s Meet the Staff Monday with Joey Bennett

Joey Bennett is bringing energy, enthusiasm, and heart to the WNZR radio team this year. A freshman Communication and Digital Media major at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Joey is already making her mark as a DJ. You can catch her live on WNZR every Wednesday from 2–4 PM, where she shares great music and an uplifting presence with listeners.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Originally from Weirton, West Virginia, Joey has long felt a special connection to MVNU. Her home church was deeply involved with the university, and she says she always felt at home whenever she came to visit campus. That sense of belonging made her decision to attend MVNU a natural one.

Joey discovered her interest in radio through her communication classes. Curious and willing to try something new, she stepped into the studio—and quickly found her place behind the mic. Now as part of the WNZR team, she’s embracing the opportunity to grow her skills and connect with others through broadcasting.

Outside of the studio, Joey is just as active. She cheers on the MVNU game day and competition squads and has been involved in cheerleading since elementary school. In fact, she has even spent time coaching along the way. One of her favorite MVNU memories so far has been attending Sonfest and reconnecting with friends from her home church.

When it comes to music, Joey’s favorite artist is Katy Nichole, and her favorite song is “Have Your Way.” She even had the opportunity to see Katy Nichole live at the K-LOVE Center—an experience she describes as incredibly exciting and unforgettable.

Joey’s interests don’t stop there. She loves crawfish and crab legs (though chicken is always a good option, too), enjoys sleeping in when she can, and values taking time to relax and reset for the week ahead. She credits one of her former teachers, Mrs. Hores—who taught life skills, food prep, and sewing clubs—as someone who made a lasting impact on her life.

A fun fact about Joey? She has a unique hidden talent—she can contort her body! But beyond her talents and activities, her faith is what guides her most. Joey shares that God has been teaching her to trust Him fully and “let God take the pen back” in writing her life story.

Two of her favorite Bible verses reflect that trust:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Looking ahead, Joey dreams of becoming a TV news reporter and anchor. With her passion for communication, heart for ministry, and growing experience at WNZR, she’s already well on her way.

Be sure to tune in Wednesdays from 2–4 PM to hear Joey on WNZR!

Click HERE to check out WNZR.fm!

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You can have fun celebrating Valentine’s Day as a family

Valentine’s Day is coming soon – this Saturday! Do you have special plans? How about creating a new tradition for the entire family? These are fun ideas that involve everyone, including the kids!

Click HERE to see the complete list and details for each activity from sugarspiceandglitter.com

Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day as a Family

1. Special Valentine’s Breakfast or Meal Together. 

2. Take Family Pictures.

3. Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt. 

4. Random Acts of Kindness.

5. Balloon Surprise!

6. Make a Special Treat Together. 

7. What I Love About You! Spend some time showering your family with words of affirmation and taking turns telling each other all of the things you love about each other.

8. Visit or Acknowledge a Departed Loved One. 

9. Watch a Timeless Classic.

10. Engage in a Family Past time.

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Great Valentine’s Day Ideas from Crosswalk

Valentine’s Day is a special opportunity to show love in meaningful, tangible ways—whether you’ve been together for months or many years. While some couples enjoy a simple dinner out or chocolates and flowers, and others go all out with big adventures, celebrating your love doesn’t have to be expensive—especially with rising costs.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart had six great date night ideas from Crosswalk.com

The most important thing isn’t how much you spend, but how intentionally you connect. With a little creativity, you can make the day truly special and deepen your bond without breaking the bank.

Looking for inspiration? Here are a few fun and meaningful Valentine’s date night ideas:
💖 A relaxing home spa day
🍽️ A cozy dinner with friends
🎬 A classic movie night at home

No matter how you celebrate, the goal is the same—spend quality time together and show the one you love just how much they mean to you

Click HERE for more from Crosswalk!

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Christian Athletes Living Out Their Faith on the Olympic Stage

As the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina get underway, some athletes are standing out for more than just their performance on the ice or snow.

Beliefnet highlights several Christian athletes who openly live out their faith while competing at the highest level of sport.

These Olympians talk candidly about prayer, trust in God, and staying grounded amid pressure, expectations, and global attention. Their stories offer a refreshing reminder that while Olympic dreams are fueled by years of hard work and sacrifice, many competitors draw their deepest strength from something far greater than medals or podiums.

Click HERE for the entire article from Beliefnet.

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EmpowHER 2026: An Evening to Celebrate Women, Community, and the Power of Your Voice

Halle Krajenski, Director of Programs for New Directions, recently joined WNZR’s Eric Brown to talk about one of the organization’s most anticipated events of the year—EmpowHER.

Click HERE for the full interview!

Having served in her role for just over 1 year, Halle oversees New Directions’ prevention team, which works directly in local schools to educate youth on healthy relationships, recognizing warning signs of unhealthy behavior, intervention strategies, and personal safety.

This year’s EmpowHER event takes place on Friday, March 13th at the Kenyon Lowry Center. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., giving guests time to shop a vendor marketplace featuring women-owned local businesses before dinner is served at 6:15 p.m. The evening continues with presentations and awards designed to uplift and amplify the voices of women and girls across Knox County.

Created in celebration of International Women’s Day, the EmpowHER Awards focus on empowerment, community, and celebration. The 2026 theme—“Vogue Presents: Where Your Voice Leads, Change Follows”—sets the tone for a night centered on confidence, leadership, and positive impact. Guests can also expect a full buffet dinner prepared by Kenyon by AVI, offering a wide variety of high-quality options.

Now in its fifth year, EmpowHER has grown into a highly anticipated annual celebration for New Directions. Halle says the event provides a dedicated time each year to intentionally empower women while bringing the community together in meaningful ways. Tickets are $75 for individuals, with half-table and full-table options available. Sponsorship opportunities and vendor spots are still open, though limited. Tickets, sponsorships, and vendor inquiries can be made by emailing empowhernewdirections@gmail.com, with payment options including Venmo, PayPal, or invoice.

Beyond EmpowHER, New Directions remains active year-round through awareness initiatives such as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and their annual summer Color Run.

Click HERE to learn more about the 2026 EmpowHER event!

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WNZR’s Meet the Staff Monday with Brock Hankins

This week’s Meet the Staff Monday on WNZR features Sophomore/Junior, Brock Hankins.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Brock is from Mount Vernon and chose to attend MVNU because of his connection to the CCP classes he had already taken here. Thanks to those early college credits, he came in with 50 credits completed — which means at just 19 years old, he’s considered a Sophomore/Junior.

His interest in radio grew out of his longtime love for music and the arts. When Brock decided to major in communication, trying out WNZR and radio felt like a natural step. Now, he serves as a DJ and also helps with the Sportscasting video team. But he doesn’t stop there. Brock works as an office intern for the communications department, hopes to be involved in SGA, and stays active in many areas around campus.

One major highlight of his college experience so far has been attending CMBU. That trip opened significant doors for him, including the opportunity to become one of two CMBU interns. He now works alongside fellow intern Naomi Kinne in that role. Brock describes the CMBU trip as one of his greatest memories because of the opportunities it created.

Much of Brock’s college experience focuses on his campus involvement and being a member of the worship team at The Church at Chapel Hill. His faith is an important part of his life. Although he grew up Christian, he recently came to terms with truly making his faith his own, and he shares how God has been working in his heart during this season.

His favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 4:32:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

This verse is especially meaningful to him because of his struggle with forgiveness, and it reminds him to choose kindness and forgiveness daily.

Outside of school and work, Brock enjoys catching up on sleep and going out to eat with his family on the weekends. His favorite people in the world are his parents, sister, and grandma — especially because of how they support him in everything he does. He also laughs about a funny family memory during a snowstorm when his grandma still wanted to go to Chili’s first thing in the morning.

A few fun facts about Brock: his favorite artist is Lauren Daigle, and his favorite song is “Thank God I Do.” His favorite food is Italian — specifically Chicken Alfredo. And he’s secretly had the privilege of going to Hawaii twice.

You can hear Brock Hankins on Mondays from 2-4pm.

Click HERE to check out WNZR’s website and see and the other WNZR staff!

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February MVNU Update with Rev. Jon Nicholas – Executive Director of Enrollment for the College of Arts & Sciences

The Morning Thing shared the February MVNU Update on Friday.
Rev. Jon Nicholas was our guest. He serves MVNU as the Executive Director of Enrollment for the College of Arts & Sciences.

He shared a wonderful update on enrollment projections for the 2026-2027 academic year.
He gave us insight on how his team works with prospective students, including how a campus visit is tailored to the student’s interest.

We talked about what makes MVNU unique and special and how a positive life-changing culture is vital for the college experience. You can sign up for a tour and see the MVNU Enrollment calendar at mvnu.edu

Click HERE or on the link below to hear the full conversation.

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The Morning Thing Friday Favorites – We love a HOT Breakfast!

February is National Hot Breakfast Month. Today for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite hot breakfast selections. This month, you are encouraged to take a little extra time to eat a hot breakfast with your family and friends. It is a perfect way to warm up in the winter weather.

Click HERE or the link below to hear what The Morning Thing hosts enjoy for breakfast.

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Transforming Talents: Inside the Mission, Training, and Career Opportunities of the Ohio State Highway Patrol

Lieutenant Coby Holloway and Sergeant Josh Stryker of the Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined WNZR’s Eric Brown to discuss the Patrol’s core mission and what sets it apart.

Click HERE for the full conversation!

They shared how the Patrol works daily to keep Ohio’s roads and communities safe through emergency response, traffic enforcement, crash investigations, and criminal interdiction. The officers emphasized that “transforming your talents” means the Patrol needs people with diverse skills and personalities, from leadership and communication to technology and service-focused roles.

They also highlighted the importance of being service-minded, committed to helping others, and willing to put the public first, along with the benefits of paid academy training and continued professional development.

The conversation also explored the wide range of specialized career opportunities available after gaining road experience.

After two years, troopers can pursue roles in aviation, crash reconstruction, criminal patrol, K-9 units, investigations, special response teams, academy instruction, and more.

Holloway and Stryker also explained why the Ohio State Highway Patrol is a great fit for veterans and reservists, noting that military experience is highly valued and that the Patrol’s structure, benefits, and support make it a natural transition from military service to law enforcement.

Click HERE to find out more on how to be a OSP Trooper!

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