Student Filmmaker Earns Second Best of State Award

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University student Issac Goeckeritz has received a 2009 Best of State Award for his documentary "Uintah United."

Goeckeritz was recognized at the 2009 Best of State Awards Gala on May 30. This is the second Best of State Award Goeckeritz has earned. He was honored in 2008 for his previous documentary "Ogden: Junction City of the West."

"Uintah United" focuses on how the small town of Uintah in Weber County responded to the 1922 shooting of a student by the school's principal, Marlow J. Christensen. It tells the story of Christensen's successor, Golden Kilburn, as he struggled to unite a community divided by the incident and reach out to the murdered student's friends. Former KSL news anchor Dick Nourse narrated the documentary, which was produced and directed by Goeckeritz.

Goeckeritz's resume includes film work for ESPN and HBO. In addition, he has donated his time and resources to produce films for Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, Globous Relief Fund, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Cathedral of the Madeleine and Madeleine Choir School. 

He is currently working on a documentary that focuses on homeless veterans in America who are seeking to change their lives through 18-month, community-based transitional housing programs. Goeckeritz plans on graduating from WSU this fall with a bachelor's degree in geography.

The Best of State Awards strive to recognize outstanding individuals, organizations and businesses in Utah by recognizing excellence in the community and sharing examples of success and triumph in many worthy endeavors.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.