Nicole Burke wins first place for “Voice of Uniondale”

Real estate agent Nicole Burke has had an unexpected 10 months.

The first unexpected occurrence was attending an event in fall 2022 at Hofstra University, and going home that night having agreed to host her own radio show.

John Mullen, the general manager for WRHU (Radio Hofstra University), happened to sit next to Burke at that event. He said later, “I could tell she had an incredible personality,” and broached the idea of giving her a half-hour weekly slot.

Burke took up the challenge. She learned the mechanical and technical skills needed, booked her guests, and started broadcasting in December 2022. Her second show was an interview with Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil, the Uniondale school superintendent.

Mullen heard the segment and precipitated the second unexpected occurrence. He immediately entered the segment into the yearly Press Club of Long Island contest in the category of Radio Education Reporting. The prizes would be awarded at a dinner on June 15.

“John said, ‘This is going to win,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, whatever,’” Burke said. “To be honest, I had a vacation planned in Louisville with a friend, June 15 through 18.”

In early May, Burke learned that she was in the running to earn at least third place. Heidi Sanft, the cochair of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, encouraged Burke to change her vacation plans and attend the PCLI dinner on June 15. The friend readily agreed.

“I was excited,” said Burke. “Over 500 people were at that dinner. It was so loud, I couldn’t hear. When they called my name, I thought it was for second place. They gave me the plaque and I was like, I won first!”

Burke continues to broadcast interviews with people who live or work in Uniondale every Wednesday at 5 p.m. on WRHU. But now she has a classy green-glass prize to help her celebrate her own hard work and success.