For faculty and students, Jennifer Hawkins was more than a face on television. She was a determined journalist and friendly woman, they said.
The May 2001 Ball State graduate was killed Saturday in a car accident in Belt, Mont. Hawkins, 22, was in a KRTV news car with photographer David Gerdrum when the vehicle was struck from behind by a semi. The collision resulted in a nine-car pileup.
No information about memorial services were available at presstime.
Her real name was Hinderliter, but she used the moniker Hawkins for her broadcasts.
"Jennifer was a quiet person, but very friendly," said Steve Bell, one of Hawkins' telecommunications professors.
Bell was Hawkins' professor and worked with her on "Muncie at the Millennium," a television program about Muncie in 2000. Hawkins worked on background reports about the community.
From that project, Bell said he could tell she was dedicated to her job. Bell said this determination made Hawkins a success.
"She was a person you could count on to go out and make that extra effort," he said. "She had an underlying determination you didn't always see.
"She got a job on her own clear across the country. She was doing it well because of the determination she had."
Hawkins was also a mentor for her fellow students.
"I was new to news reporting and she taught me some things," said junior Elliott McKinnis, who worked with her on NewsCenter43.
According to McKinnis, during a speech given by then-President John Worthen, he and Hawkins had to leave to make deadline for the news broadcast. As the team packed up its equipment, they ran into a problem.
"We were ready to leave and I asked Jennifer how we would get the microphone from Worthen," McKinnis said. "Jennifer looked at me and said 'It's all you,' and I picked up the microphone and walked away."
Hawkins did not always seem this direct, though, Bell said. Her demeanor, he said, did not indicate her hidden drive for success.
"I was always after her to assert herself more," Bell said. "I was afraid she was not aggressive enough to be a good reporter."
Hawkins majored in telecommunications and minored in Asian studies and Japanese. During college she traveled to China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. After college, she traveled to London and back to China.
She was also a member of the Asian American Journalists Association and the Radio Television News Director Association.
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