School Board Recognitions

October 4, 2005

6. Student, Employee, and Public Awards and Recognitions

6. A. VSBA 2005 Media Honor Roll Recipients

The School Board is pleased to recognize two local media representatives as recipients of the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2005 Media Honor Roll.

Kurt Williams, news anchor at WTKR TV-3 and Victoria Hecht, editor of the Virginia BeachBeacon have been recognized by the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) for their support of public education in Virginia Beach. VSBA recently named both Mr. Williams and Ms. Hecht to the 2005 Media Honor Roll because of their balanced and accurate approach for sharing both the challenges facing our schools and the successes achieved by teachers and students in our community.

Kurt Williams serves as the anchor for the noon, 5:30 and 6:00 shows at WTKR --Your News Channel 3. For the past four years, on a regular basis, Kurt has followed and reported on school division initiatives and has established a working relationship with our Department of Media and Communications. With balance and accuracy, Kurt can be counted on to report not only the controversial topics that drive the news but the heartwarming stories he shares with the community about our students and staff. On behalf of our students and staff, thank you Kurt for your commitment to Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

The Board is pleased to present him with VSBA’s 2005 Media Honor Roll certificate. Please join me in congratulating Kurt Williams on this worthy recognition.

In addition, congratulations to Victoria Hecht, Beacon editor, for also being named to VSBA’s media honor roll. Due to a work commitment, Ms. Hecht was unable to be with us this evening. As the Beacon editor, Victoria serves as the school division’s good news ambassador. Every issue of the Virginia Beach Beacon is testimony to Victoria’s commitment to our school division. During the school year, Victoria and her reporters are responsible for including thousands of photos, briefs, and stories that reinforce the achievements of our students and staff. The Beacon is truly a valuable community resource, and our thanks to Ms. Hecht for helping to make it so. Congratulations to Victoria Hecht!

Mr. Chairman, that concludes our scheduled recognitions for this evening.