WASHINGTON — April 4, 2011 — The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) presented Shae Hopkins, Executive Director of Kentucky Educational Television (KET), with the 2011 National Advocacy Award for her exceptional efforts in furthering public television’s legislative goals. The National Advocacy Award recognizes an individual that exemplifies effective advocacy on behalf of public television.
As a 24-year veteran of the station, Ms. Hopkins leads an advocacy team that also includes Hilma Prather, a member of the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television and the APTS board, and Julie Schmidt, KET Senior Director of Community Relations, along with the KET Friends Board, comprised of volunteers. The KET team has cultivated impressive relationships with the entire Kentucky congressional delegation.
“Shae Hopkins and her advocacy team manage some of public broadcasting’s most important political relationships,” said Patrick Butler, President and CEO of APTS. Shae and her colleagues are passionate champions of public broadcasting—particularly its core mission in education—and their advocacy is all the more effective because of the great work they do for the people of Kentucky every day. Shae enlisted hundreds of KET’s supporters for the 170 million Americans for public broadcasting campaign, and she eagerly contributed her ideas about growth strategies for the grassroots effort.”
In addition to excelling at direct advocacy, KET fosters support through exceptional educational services, such as the nation’s preeminent adult literacy series, and programs and services utilized in Kentucky classrooms. KET also produces a tremendous volume of local programming including highly regarded local public affairs and cultural programming like Kentucky Life with Dave Shuffett and Kentucky Tonight with Bill Goodman.
“This honor belongs to KET’s boards and volunteers who are tireless and highly effective community advocates,” said Hopkins. “And it certainly belongs to the staff at KET who produce and provide innovative and highly valued educational programs and services, as well as those who so effectively communicate our story and our case to citizens and leaders alike. And I can never acknowledge enough our viewers and users who rally to our defense and take the time to voice their support to our appreciative Congressional delegation.”
Ms. Hopkins received the 2011 National Advocacy Award on Monday, April 4, during the APTS Capitol Hill Day conference in Washington, DC.
About APTS
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1979. The mission of APTS is to conduct – in concert with member stations – advocacy, planning, research and communications activities in order to achieve strong and financially sound noncommercial television and advanced digital services for the American people. APTS provides consistent leadership and information that helps our members better accomplish their own missions and goals. APTS promotes the legislative and regulatory interests of noncommercial television stations at the national level through direct advocacy, and grasstops and grassroots campaigns designed to garner congressional support. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
About 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting
170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting is a collaboration of public radio and television stations, national organizations, producers and public broadcasting viewers and listeners throughout the country in favor of a strong public media in the United States. This project receives no government funding.
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