Four WSU alumni who excelled in their careers after graduation will be honored for their achievements at the annual Murrow Symposium.

The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication will induct Bertha Lynn, Kerry Brock, Elizabeth Tuura, and John Ibsen into the Murrow Alumni Hall of Achievement during the Murrow Symposium this week.

One of the alumni, Bertha Lynn, executive director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at Denver, spent 37 years on the air as a broadcast journalist while contributing to the community by volunteering.

Lynn graduated from WSU in 1977 and went on to work for the KMGH and KUSA radio stations in Denver. She also served on boards such as the Denver Art Museum’s African American Outreach Task Force, Lynn said.

“I felt indebted to the community because it is a privilege to have a career like broadcasting,” Lynn said. “I took the notion of role model for people and children very very seriously,”

Lynn knew she wanted to study broadcast journalism after appearing on a TV news program for KOMO to talk about a campaign her high school was involved in called “Save Our School” during her junior year in high school. The host of the program, Marty Wilson, befriended Lynn and directed her to WSU for an education in broadcast journalism, Lynn said.

“I walked into the studio and was mesmerized by the environment,” Lynn said.

At WSU her instructors expected her work to be of the highest standard, which became a personal standard that helped her succeed in her career. This standard continues to push her to reach her goals and to push herself while working in her career, Lynn said.

Lynn has won Emmys, been inducted into the Broadcast Professionals of Colorado Hall of Fame, and been recognized by many other professional organizations.

“There is something about the work that is satisfying in and of itself,” Lynn said. “I am so honored to be recognized in this way by the communications school.”

Lynn currently works as a philanthropist as the executive director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at Denver and resides with her husband Larry Naves and three children.

Another alumna member who will be inducted, Kerry Brock, worked for KOMO as a reporter, and as a media analyst for CNN, Time, Fox, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. She also hosted a national PBS program called Freedom Speaks.

Brock is also an artist who paints, sculpts, prints, creates handmade books and draws. Her artistic skills helped her to be creative throughout her professional career, she said.

She found that she loved broadcast during her time at WSU when she was pushed to join a debate team by a WSU teacher. The debate team sparked her enjoyment in public speaking and giving presentations, Brock said.

“I loved to tell their story and present that,” Brock said. “It was all the good stuff wrapped into one for me.”

After graduating WSU she worked as a journalist for 20 years. She also worked for some internet companies in the late 90s such as Edificerex.com until the company went broke.

“It was a great learning experience,” Brock said. “Good to learn a different format.”

Brock grew up in Pasco and was inspired by landscape and natural beauty, which she said she communicates through her art.  She currently shows and sells her art while residing in Weston, Conn., with her husband John Seigenthaler and their son.

“The more I learn in life the more I realize I need to know,” Brock said.

Another WSU alumna, Elizabeth Tuura now works as a freelance technical manager for CBS Sports and NBC Sports. She has won two National Sports Emmy Awards while working as a technical director for companies such as ESPN, NBC, Turner Sports and CBS.

Tuura has worked on coverage of the Olympics since 2002 as a technical director for NBC. Her coverage includes the NFL and NCAA for CBS, and golf, Tuura said.

“No matter what, you do need to learn how to think critically and communicate,” Tuura said. “Those skills will get you jobs.”

In college Tuura learned discipline and responsibility that carried over into her professional life as a freelancer because those who freelance are hired by word of mouth and are responsible for their own financial situation, Tuura said.

There are not very many women who work in the technical field of broadcast and there are many jobs available on the technical side, she said.

“I want to encourage women to think about careers in the more technical role,” Tuura said. “It’s a very interesting and ever changing field.”

Tuura feels accomplishment when she directs a successful on-air show.

“Then you move onto the next thing,” Tuura said. “You don’t have to drag it around with you.”

She lives in Orlando, Fla., with her husband.

John Ibsen, senior vice president of creative film services for Walt Disney Studios and WSU alumna, will also be recognized for his accomplishments such as leading the campaign for Marvel’s “The Avengers.”

Ibsen has worked on successful tentpole campaigns such as “Lincoln,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Iron Man 3,” and “Need For Speed.”

He has held roles such as editor, creative director, vice president and producer, and has led marketing campaigns for Disney Live Action, DreamWorks and Marvel movies. Variety magazine honored Ibsen in 2012 as one of “Hollywood’s New Leaders.”

Ibsen currently lives in Glendale, Calif., with his wife Becky and their two children. He is currently working on a campaign for “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” He could not be reached for comment.