2009 Grand Marshal

Val Zavala

Val Zavala is an anchor/reporter for KCET’s weekly award-winning newsmagazine SoCal Connected. She has been at KCET since 1987. For sixteen years Ms. Zavala was a vital part of the series “Life & Times”, serving as an anchor, co-anchor and reporter. Life & Times won 25 L.A. Area Emmys and 30 Golden Mikes.

Ms. Zavala came to KCET with six years reporting experience at commercial news stations. She has covered major issues impacting southern California politics, education, healthcare, environment, demographics, arts and culture. She has also profiled dozens of southern California’s elected officials, activists, artists and thinkers making a difference in our communities.

Ms. Zavala is a trustee of Mount Saint Mary’s College, and was a Senior Fellow for UCLA’s School of Public Affairs (2007 — 08). In 1992 Zavala left KCET for one year on a John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University, a prestigious mid-career fellowship for journalists. She received her Masters in journalism from American University in Washington, D. C. and her B.A. in Latin American Studies from Yale University.

Val Zavala ha estado reportando la premiada tele-revista “So Cal Connected” en el canal KCET desde 1987. Por más de 16 años, ha cido parte de la serie “Life & Times” sirviendo cómo reportera de television.

Ms Zavala llegó al canal KCET con 6 años de experiencia cómo reportera commercial de tele-noticias. Ella ha cubierto temas importantes para la poblacion del sur de California que incluyen: la politica, educación, salubridad publica, medio-ambiente, la demografia hispana, el arte y la cultura. Dentro su multiples actividades se incluyen los perfiles de lideres politicos. Este premio ha recibido mas de 25 premios “Emmys”; 30 premios de “Golden Mike”.

Ms. Zavala es miembra de las mesa directiva de la Universidad Mount St. Mary’s College. Ademas, ha cido professora del departamiento de asuntos publicos de UCLA (2007-08). En 1992, Ms. Zavala dejo KCET por un ano con una beca de John S. Knight de la Universidad de Stanford-un program de mucho presticio para corressponsales/periodistas cómo lo es ella. Recibio su Maestria en periodismo de la Universidad Americana en Washington D.C. y su Bachillerato en Estudios Latinoamericanos de al Universidad de Yale.