Hall of Achievement – 2010

Kathy Brock

Kathy Brock is an award winning television journalist and news anchor in one of the nation’s biggest and toughest markets. She is dedicated to supporting the women and children of her adopted home of Chicago.

Brock co-anchors ABC-7 news at 6 and 10, the top rated newscasts in Chicago and spent years as a general assignment reporter and anchored ABC7 News this Morning. Over the years, she has covered everything from the Chicago Loop flood to the Cook County Administration Building Fire to the political rise of a young Illinois State Senator, Barack Obama. Brock’s work has been recognized with six Chicago Emmy Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Award and the IRIS Award from the National Association of Television Program Executives.

Prior to joining ABC 7 in 1990, Brock spent six years as an anchor/reporter in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also spent three years as an anchor/reporter at KBCI in Boise, Idaho and KEPR TV in Pasco, Washington and work at KWSU-TV in Pullman, Washington while in college.

Brock is involved in a number of Chicago philanthropic endeavors, including Deborah’s Place, a transition facility for abused women and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls which gives abused and abandoned children a stable residential and educational environment. Brock also serves on the board of the Goodman Theatre and is a past board member of the Erikson Institute, a graduate school in child development.

Brock holds a BA in journalism from Washington State University and resides in the northern suburbs of Chicago and is the mother of two sons.

“As a Washington farm kid, when I came to Pullman, my strongest employable skills were knowing how to drive a tractor and plow a field. At WSU, I learned how to dig up a story and tell it in a compelling way with words and pictures. Any success I’ve had in my 30 years in this challenging, ever changing industry, is a direct result of the strong mentoring I received while a journalism student at Washington State. I am so grateful to Glenn Johnson and the dedicated professionals at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications. This honor is a reflection of their expertise and commitment to giving young journalists the skills to succeed.”

Jeri McDonald

Jeri McDonald touched the minds and hearts of many in her chosen field of public relations. She is best remembered for her dedication to the nonprofits and arts organizations of Seattle and for her dedicated work as a graduate and advocate of WSU.

Before founding her public relations firm, Jeri McDonald and Associates, she worked as Director of Public Relations for the Seattle Symphony and in a similar capacity for the Seattle Art Museum. Jeri and Art McDonald were original members of the Visiting Committee, prior to the establishment of the WSU Foundation. She served on the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees in the 1980s. At the time of her death, she was a WSU Trustee Ambassador and a member of the WSU Advancement Communications Committee.

She received the WSU Outstanding Alumna Award in 1988, the Alumni Achievement Award in 1989 and the WSU Foundation Outstanding Achievement Award in 1991. She and Art were founding co-chairs of the advisory board to the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication and she was an advisor to the WSU Art Museum. The Jeri McDonald Endowed Scholarship in Public Relations supports students of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

Jeri McDonald was a native of Dee, Oregon and graduated in 1953 from WSU with a B.A. in Speech and an emphasis in radio and television.

Richard J. Warsinske

Richard J. Warsinske has excelled in public and commercial television broadcasting as a producer, director, manager, lobbyist and web service visionary.

For 21 years he worked for Seattle’s KOMO 4 Television; 14 of those years were spent as Senior VP and General Manager. For five years running, KOMO 4 News was recognized with a National Edward R Murrow award. At KOMO, Mr. Warsinske programmed 38 hours of news and five hours of locally-produced talk programming each week. During his tenure as KOMO Program Manager, his team garnered over 60 Emmys and a Peabody Award. As Executive Producer for KPIX TV 5 Westinghouse in San Francisco, Mr. Warsinske was a producer of highly-rated daily talk programs, weekly magazine programs, and four prime time specials. Most recently he served as VP and General Manager of Public Station KCTS.

Richard Warsinske lobbied for broadcast interests on the television digital transition in Washington D.C. and was responsible for all aspects of building KOMO TV’s new 100 million dollar multi-platform digital facility.

Richard J. Warsinske holds a B.A. in Communications from WSU and lives in Seattle.

“I am proud to have attended Washington State University and with the benefit of the teachings of the Murrow Legacy have been able to impact the business we love.”

Kay J. Wight

Kay J. Wight has led a very distinguished career as a business executive and civic leader in the dynamic public, private and nonprofit sectors of New York City.

Ms. Wight held many positions over her 23-year career at CBS, Inc., working for CBS News and CBS Sports. As Director of Public Responsibility for American Express Travel Related Services Company, and as VP of MacAndrews & Forbes/Revlon she managed high-visibility projects and events. Wight has made outstanding contributions to society as a professional and volunteer in the fields of health care, cancer research, women’s rights, the arts, education and philanthropy. She has been affiliated with the American Cancer Society, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, the Institute for Women and Work at Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, the Guttman Institute and served as chair of the New York City Commission on the Status of Women.

Her awards include: the Kay J. Wight Exemplary Leadership Award at WSU; induction into the Academy of Women Achievers of the YWCA of New York City; WSU Alumni Achievement Award; NYC Women in Communications Matrix Award for Broadcasting; Women in Communications National Headliner; NYC National Organization for Women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton; American Cancer Society Woman of Achievement; Boston Women in Communications Matrix Award for Broadcasting; National Association of Female Executives/Ford Motor Company Woman Executive of the Year.

Wight calls her induction into the Edward R. Murrow Hall of Fame “overwhelming and humbling,” adding, “I feel as though I am completing the circle, since I had the opportunity to hear Murrow deliver the commencement address right here at WSU many, many years ago. It was a life-changing moment for me!”