That is just one reason Seattle television journalist Kathi Goertzen and Washington businessman Ted Baseler were inducted into the WSU Edward R. Murrow School of Communication Hall of Achievement last week.
In a special Nov. 30 ceremony in the Summit Room at KOMO Radio/TV, WSU president Elson Floyd presented crystals to Goertzen and Baseler in honor and recognition of their achievements and service throughout their distinguished careers.
Erica Weintraub Austin, interim director of the Murrow School, said “We are extremely proud of Kathi and Ted for leading lives so thoroughly dedicated to generosity and excellence. They are such wonderful role models for future generations of Murrow School graduates.”
Baseler, a 1976 graduate of the Murrow school, is president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates of Bellevue, Washington’s oldest wine company. He joined their staff in 1984 as director of marketing after earning a master’s degree from Northwestern University. In 2001 he became Ste. Michelle’s top official.
In 2002 Baseler launched the Chateau Ste. Michelle Diversity Scholarship Fund program. Since then it has raised nearly $1.2 million to provide scholarships for underrepresented and minority students at both WSU and the University of Washington.
Baseler, who believes college education should be accessible to everyone, has served on the WSU Board of Regents and the WSU Foundation Board of Governors.
Goertzen, a 1980 graduate of the Murrow school, is a veteran at KOMO 4, the ABC television affiliate in Seattle, where she co-anchors the evening news with Dan Lewis.
In nearly a quarter century in front of the camera, Goertzen has earned numerous awards for excellence in broadcast journalism, including Emmy Awards, a National Education Reporting Award and United Press International Awards. She received the Northwest’s first national Emmy Award for Community Service for her documentary reporting on breast cancer and breast cancer prevention in the “Why Me?/Getting in Touch” campaign.
Goertzen served on the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2000 and received a WSU Foundation Outstanding Service Award in 1996 as a member of the Foundation’s strategic communication committee.
The Hall of Achievement alumni awards honor the accomplishments of WSU communication graduates who have made significant contributions to diverse communication fields. In addition to Baseler and Goertzen, alumni Jay Rockey, Art McDonald and Mike Harney were honored in April 2007.
