One group of UNM students takes its religious beliefs seriously - broadcasting them on TV for thousands of viewers to see.
Ryan and Kristie Gloetzner, both UNM undergraduates, are among 10 University students who intern for YTV, a locally produced television station based on Christianity.
The Gloetzners work as the hosts of "Unrendered," a 30-minute program that advocates the benefits of religion in young people's lives.
"It's a privilege just to have an audience, I mean I'm no different than anybody else my age," Kristie said of her more than a year of experience with the television station. "It really is a dream job. It combines everything I love in life."
The public access TV station, whose targeted audience is 12 to 24-year-olds, is aired on KYNM TV, Channel 61. YTV's programming is shown at 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and three more times during the weekend.
Kristie said the station has found an unexpected amount of success, first airing more than three years ago.
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"Everyone who works for the station honestly believes in everything we are trying to accomplish and I think people recognize that," Kristie said. "We are just ordinary kids who had very little experience coming in. But we strive to keep our message and our actions real. Our audience appreciates that."
According to its Web site, KYNM TV is dedicated to broadcasting an alternative to what the world offers its young people in music and entertainment by airing "cutting-edge" Christian music videos and programming designed to encourage young people to embrace Christianity.
"The best education a person can get is hands-on," said Carolyn Rush, the TV station's manager. "This is a real life success story that I hope shows our youth that their dreams are attainable."
Rush said she's amazed at the growth and success of the internship program, which is voluntary. Because it is primarily run by the students, she said, there are very few barriers for someone looking to gain television experience.
"The management has kept their hands off and allowed the kids to make nearly all the decisions," Rush said. "This allows them to experience all facets of the business and learn a great deal about broadcast journalism."
The vision of Your Music Television is to reach as many young people as possible throughout the country with an alternative from what the world has to offer in music and entertainment, she said.
The station works with churches, ministries and local businesses to fund its programming and hopes to transition to cable television soon. She said because the TV station is locally produced and its content is youth-related, it has built a loyal fan base it hopes to increase.
"We're not asking people for money or throwing religion into their faces," Ryan said. "We're genuinely trying to help people understand their lives and their reality through our own experiences."
He said he hopes UNM students realize there are opportunities for them to get the experience they need to succeed in life.
"Through perseverance and a little divine intervention, it is possible to find that perfect job," Ryan said.
