ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈaɪv, kˈeɪts mˈæstɚz θˈiːsɪs fɔːɹ stˈænfɚd jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾiz fˈɪlm pɹˈoʊɡɹæm, ðɛɹ ˈoʊn vˌiːətnˈɑːm, wˈʌn ɐ stˈuːdənt ɐkˈædəmi ɐwˈɔːɹd ɪn dˌɑːkjuːmˈɛntɚɹi.
In 1995, Kates' master's thesis for Stanford University's film program, Their Own Vietnam, won a Student Academy Award in documentary.