On Saturday, alumna and former Spartan Daily editor Kathryn "Katie" Hoedt died after falling from a rope swing at Folsom Lake near Sacramento.
Fall 2020 Executive Editor, Christian Trujano, who worked closely with Hoedt, writes about his time with her:
This past weekend, the San Jose State journalism community lost one of its best and brightest journalists — Kathryn "Katie" Hoedt.
For those who didn’t know Katie, which shouldn’t be too many people given her tenacious work ethic in all three of the Journalism and Mass Communications publications, she exemplified what it meant to be a great journalist.
I had the privilege of working with Katie when I was the executive editor for the Spartan Daily in the fall 2020 semester. Before then, she had been working the Spear and I was desperate for a sports editor coming into the new semester.
When she finally agreed to join my team, I quickly realized how lucky we were to have her.
Not only did she manage to pitch and write sports stories during a time when most, if not all, sports were shut down because of the pandemic, she also juggled page designs for the Daily, the Spear and Access Magazine all at the same time.
Apart from being a fantastic editor, she was also a kind and nurturing friend to me and the rest of my staff. She mentored reporters, stayed up late to work through edits and never stopped looking for different ways to tell the stories of student-athletes at SJSU.
Her determination to be one of the best journalists coming out of the Bay Area didn't stop there.
She graduated with her bachelor’s from SJSU and her master’s from New York University all by the time she turned 21. She had also just started her career as the 8 a.m. morning producer at KCRA in Sacramento.
"Katie was an amazing friend and mentor who helped lead me on my path to becoming a successful journalist. She was a supportive, kind, patient, smart and beautiful individual who brought so much light anywhere she went," said former Spartan Daily reporter and editor Samantha Herrera. "I consider myself extremely blessed to have been able to meet her and learn from her. If it wasn’t for Katie, I wouldn’t be where I am right now in my career. She always believed in me, checked in on me and encouraged me to be the best journalist I could be and I’m forever grateful I met her."
So when the news came out that she had died on Saturday due to an accident at Folsom Lake, the pain was too much to bear.
Katie will always be remembered for her infectious smile, determination to her craft and overall positive energy that she brought with her wherever she went. On behalf of the Spartan Daily, we offer her family and friends our deepest condolences.
Rest in Peace Kathryn "Katie" Hoedt.
