Radio WAPS-FM (The Summit)

WAPS (91.3 FM, "91.3 The Summit") is an American non-commercial radio station serving in and licensed to Akron, Ohio. The station is owned and operated by the Akron Public Schools system and airs an Adult album alternative (AAA) format Monday through Saturday, including NPR's World Cafe on weekday mornings. On Sundays, specialty programs air, including a block of nationality programming in foreign languages. Seven nights a week, WAPS airs specialty music programs from 10 pm to midnight.

WAPS first signed on in September 1955, part of a state-wide educational broadcasting initiative which saw the launch of many school system-licensed radio stations across Ohio. From 1955 through the early 1980’s, WAPS served as a “radio classroom” service, operating only during school days and offering instructional radio programs that teachers could use in their classrooms.

In the mid-1980s, the station evolved into a vocational program for high school broadcasting students, who served as on-air hosts, playing Top-40 music. In 1987, the station switched format to Alternative Rock/Modern Rock in the afternoons and evenings, and jazz in the morning hours. During this era, the station began broadcasting during the summer months as well as the school year. High school student broadcasters were augmented by college student broadcasters, and community volunteers.

Weekend specialty and nationality broadcasts began with an abbreviated schedule in 1990, expanding to a full-day schedule by 1995. In 1992, WAPS began a slow evolution away from the “Modern Rock” format towards the Album Adult Alternative format, completing the process in 1995. In 1996, the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That same year, WAPS launched their first website, which soon offered live worldwide streaming audio of WAPS programs.

In 1999, the station made a commitment to the Album Adult Alternative format under the branding of "91.3 The Summit". The website, www.wapsfm.com, was re-launched as www.913thesummit.com, though both addresses remain active. In 2001, WAPS hired local professional on-air hosts to broadcast during prime time hours, while continuing to use volunteers on weekends and evenings, supplemented by student interns and community volunteers behind the scenes.