Student move-in day at UW Bothell has its own unique soundtrack, thanks to the UWAVE radio station. Among the harsh scrapes of moving furniture and the plaintive grunts of heaving lifting, student DJs serenade new and returning residents with the twang of country melodies and the rhythmic beats of EDM.
Interspersed throughout the music are public service announcements about important dates and events on campus, prompting chatter between students. The overall vibe is one of high energy and a student community that’s informed and aware.
“I love bringing people together this way,” says electrical engineering student Samantha Szeki Boggs, ’27, the UWAVE radio station manager for the past year. From a one-room sound booth opposite the residence halls, the station is run by three UW Bothell students from a range of years, interests and majors. “It’s been a commuter campus,” Boggs says, “but we have our own community too.”
Left to right: UWAVE Radio Station Manager Samantha Boggs, Radio Studio Engineer AJ de Carvalho and Program Director Veronica Martinez.
It’s been a commuter campus, but we have our own community too.
This interactive approach has always appealed to Boggs, and it shows up in both her studies and her home life.
When she was younger, she was fascinated by her dad’s work in telecommunications. “I saw innovative aspects of telecoms that allow people to use their creativity,” says Boggs. “This drew me to consider electrical engineering not only for the engineering component, but the hands-on aspect of getting to work with different parts.” A high school job at an oil change shop and a backyard workshop for electrical projects sealed her interest in hands-on, collaborative work.
Boggs chose electrical engineering at the UW’s Bothell campus for a variety of reasons. “With it being a centralized campus on the Eastside,” she says, “there come more networking opportunities, more intimate connections and smaller classrooms, which allow me to connect with campus culture.”
Boggs knew about the radio station on campus; she volunteered at UWAVE until someone prompted her to apply for the station manager role. It’s become another way to apply her penchant for community and connection.
She’s currently trying to obtain a Low Power FM (LPFM) tower on campus through fundraising. This would allow UWAVE, which has an FCC license, to reach more people within a 10-mile radius, as an educational station.
One of the sound boards used by the UWAVE Radio team
UWAVE's slogan, "Your Voice, Your Vibe," on display as you walk in the door.
In addition to news, weather and public-service announcements, UWAVE Radio interviews students and artists, and the station participates in classes on radio media, where Huskies work with the station as part of a class project. Assignments can include DJing, outreach or even running a radio show.
Boggs and her coworkers provide group training to these students, teaching them professional and technical skills. The students also learn about public speaking and problem-solving, all while having a chill place to de-stress. The UWAVE team, meanwhile, develop interpersonal and leadership skills through teaching their fellow students.
“We’re very welcoming,” Boggs says, “and we want students to know that their tuition pays for this, so they should use these resources.”
Boggs wants to be a role model for her younger sisters. Being selected as one of the 2026 Husky 100, someone who’s made the most of their time at the UW, showed her sisters that hard work pays off.
I just want people to feel like they can do anything.
The station helps promote other student outlets on campus, such as The Husky Herald, the official student newspaper, and Clamor, the student-run literary and arts journal. Boggs is also proud of their open mic nights, where students can showcase their talents in a welcoming environment.
Talents like hip-hop dancing.
Boggs is also a hip-hop dancer who grew up on MTV music videos. She recently danced in the Shades of Brown talent showcase, where she was invited by the Black Student Union to perform. This type of campus inclusivity is exactly what she seeks to amplify through the power of music at UWAVE.
At the end of the day, Boggs just wants people to feel empowered, and to know there are resources at hand in the UW Bothell community to facilitate connection. “This campus job made me more extroverted; I uplift people when I can,” says Boggs. “I just want people to feel like they can do anything.”
Story by Lincoln McElwee // Photos by Mark Stone
Originally published October 2026
