2011 Broadcast Education Association Distinguished Education Service Award (DESA) Presented to Ms. Diana King, the Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation
Washington, D.C. – Ms. Diana King, has been named the 2011 Broadcast Education Association’s Distinguished Service to Education Award (DESA) winner. Ms. Diana King began her career when she, along with her sister and three brothers,inherited a small syndication company from their mother and father. They worked tirelessly for many years to succeed and turn King World into one of the premier television companies in the world. To this day, three of their programs, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and Oprah, are among the top 1st-run syndicated programs in the U.S. After retiring from the company, Ms. King established the Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation to honor her parents and their shared commitment to education. The purpose of the King Family Foundation is to support individuals, institutions and organizations committed to professional development and excellence in media education. To that end, she has overseen the development of undergraduate scholarships and graduate-level awards for students who demonstrate academic excellence, professional potential, community service and financial need. Since 1990, the King Family Foundation has awarded more than $3 million in awards and scholarships to some 300 students in media programs at more than 100 colleges and universities in the United States, including over a quarter of a million dollars in support of BEA student/faculty activities. The DESA is awarded to an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the American system of electronic media education by virtue of a singular achievement or continuing service on behalf of electronic media education. The award will be presented to Ms. King at BEA’s 2011 annual convention ceremony in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 10, 2011.
