Dr. Andrew Melin Distinguished Alumni Award – 2025 Recipients

88.1 the Park will honor three deserving alums when the station presents the Dr. Andrew Melin WSDP Distinguished Alumni Award on Wednesday June 4, at 7:00 p.m. at the Italian American Club in Livonia.  The honor will be presented at the station’s annual banquet.

This year’s honorees are Bret Julyk, Plymouth-Canton ’82, Noelle Wright, Plymouth-Salem ’86, and Nick Gismondi, Plymouth-Salem ’00.

The award was created in the Spring of 2017 in honor of former WSDP Station Manager, Andrew Melin.  The purpose of the award is to recognize WSDP Alums that have used their experience at the station to further the mission of WSDP by achieving success in their chosen career field; investing in the lives of young people; or supporting their local community. It is the hope of the station’s management that the honorees will serve as role models for future students at 88.1.

Bret Saunders (real last name: Julyk) graduated from Plymouth-Canton in 1982. Thanks to the opportunities presented to him at 88.1, he’s been able to travel the US and enjoy numerous broadcast employment situations. He’s spent the last 28 years at AAA station KBCO-FM in Denver, Colorado, where he hosts morning drive. Bret also gained his appreciation for jazz at 88.1, and he writes about the music for the Denver Post.

His radio work has received many honors.  His show was voted the Best Morning Radio Show in Colorado by Westword Magazine, and Best Local Morning Show in the country by FMQB (Friday Morning Quarterback), a radio trade magazine.

Bret has also had the opportunity to speak with some of the biggest names in music, politics, news, and entertainment throughout his career.  When asked who some of the biggies were, Bret replied “Paul McCartney, Barack Obama, Jamie ‘Klinger’ Farr! I like dropping the BIG names.” 

Noelle Wright is an Emmy-nominated Writer, Producer, and Story Editor specializing in animated children’s media.  After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Telecommunications, she worked in creative development for live-action film and television before discovering her passion for preschool animation. She currently writes for two upcoming YouTube series and recently served as Story Editor on Barney (Mattel/HBO Max) and Creative Producer on Deepa and Anoop (Mattel/Netflix), winner of four Kidscreen 2023 awards including Best New Preschool Series.

Her previous credits include Story Editor for Doug Unplugs (DreamWorks/Apple TV+), Co- Executive Producer and Story Editor for StarBeam (Netflix), Story Editor for Wellie Wishers (Mattel), and Creative Producer/Story Editor on Rainbow Ruby (CJ E&M / DHX Media). Noelle has developed and written for over 25 children’s shows, across leading studios in the U.S. and internationally, including PBS, Disney, Amazon, Warner Bros., and Hallmark Entertainment.  She’s known for crafting lively, character-driven stories with humor and heart.

Noelle lives in Santa Monica, California where she is a proud mom to her son, Theo, and spirited rescue pug, Mabel. She is also a novice potter.

Nick Gismondi is a 29 year multiple award-winning veteran of radio and television. His career began in Detroit where he spent a number of years as a radio play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports Radio, covering the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. In 2005, he transitioned to Los Angeles where he spent 13 years working for the NBC Sports Group as a multi-sport play-by-play announcer, reporter, host and producer. During his time with NBC Sports, he also covered multiple Olympics, World Cups and also served as play-by-play announcer for Notre Dame hockey on NBCSN.

In 2017, Gismondi left NBC to join the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL as their pre, post and intermission host on AT&T Sports Network where he was nominated for multiple Emmys during his time with Golden Knights. For the 2019-2020 season, Gismondi spent time in the prestigious role of reporter/between-the-glass analyst for the Chicago Blackhawks on NBC Sports Network Chicago and had the opportunity to work alongside Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Foley and his analyst Ed Olczyk.  During his two years in Chicago, he also co-hosted a weekly Blackhawks talk radio show on WGN.

From 2021-2022, Gismondi went to work for the NHL’s expansion Seattle Kraken, joining Root Sports as their analyst for the pre, post and intermission shows where he and his broadcast team won an Emmy.  He also appears regularly on NHL Network as a guest and has covered college hockey on Altitude TV as the play-play-play announcer for Air Force, as well as served as play-by-play announcer for Colorado College on AT&T Sports Network Rocky Mountain.

For the past four years and continuing this year, Gismondi can be seen covering multiple events for CBS, CBS Sports Network and ESPN, including Tennis, Golf, Rugby 7’s and hockey’s newest sport, 3ICE, which is a 3-on-3 league made up of professional players. He is also filling in regularly this summer on MLB Network as an in-studio host.

PAST HONOREES
2017 – June Kirchgatter, Plymouth-Salem ’83
2018 – Rob Milford, Plymouth ’73, and Glenn Bar, Plymouth-Canton ’82
2019 – Mike Schulte, Plymouth-Salem ’78, Scott Herrold Plymouth-Salem ’98, and Jake Bugeja, Starkweather ’02
2020 – David Snyder, Plymouth-Salem ’82 and Patty Williamson, Plymouth Salem ’88
2021 – Paul Sincock, Plymouth-Salem ’75, Todd Chatman, Plymouth-Salem ’83, and Greg Angel, Salem ‘03
2022 – Tim McGuire, Plymouth-Salem ’84, Brook Eddy, Plymouth-Canton ’92, Denny Kapp, Catholic Central ’98
2023 – Kara McGuire, Plymouth-Canton ’94, Chris Sample, Plymouth-Canton ’96, and Becky Lobenherz, Plymouth Salem ’02
2024 – Paul Trinka, Plymouth ’74, Lisa Preddy, Plymouth-Salem ’83, and Brian Stackpoole, Plymouth-Salem ’94