Schwab’s book investigates Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation, “showing how he uses philanthropy to exercise enormous political power without accountability.”
The book has foreign rights/translation deals to be sold in more than a dozen different markets, allowing it to reach readers in the UK, Germany, South Africa, India, China, and beyond.
Schwab was previously honored with an Izzy Award and a Deadline Club Award for his groundbreaking reporting on the Gates Foundation for The Nation, Columbia Journalism Review, and The British Medical Journal.
The Silver Circle honors media professionals who have contributed 25 years or more to the television industry, and who also have made a meaningful and significant contribution to broadcasting and/or new media.
Sallinger, who worked at WPGU from 1967-71 as an announcer, music and program director. He was inducted into the Illini Media Hall of Fame in 2022.
After working as a radio reporter in Cleveland and Chicago, Sallinger moved on to television news working at stations in Indianapolis, Denver, and Chicago.
In 1990, Sallinger became a foreign war correspondent for CNN based in London covering events like the Gulf War, the war in Yugoslavia, and the reunification of Germany.
He settled in Colorado, joining KCNC-TV, a CBS affiliate in Denver, in 1993 where he continues to work today. (Update: He retired in December 2023.)
Sallinger has covered nearly every major Colorado story in recent years including the Columbine High School shootings, the Oklahoma City bombing trials, and the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. In 2005, Sallinger won the George Foster Peabody Award for a series he did on Army recruiting.
Dave Kissel (BS ’85, journalism), global business lead at DDB, announced the worldwide advertising company was recognized as Network of the Year at the 2023 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is held annually in Cannes, France. The global event celebrates creativity, effectiveness, and innovation and is considered the largest gathering of the advertising and creative communications industry.
In addition to the Network of the Year award, DDB Worldwide won one Grand Prix in Film, one titanium, 12 gold, 25 silver, and 50 bronze trophies.
Kissel has been the global business lead for McDonald’s, DDB’s biggest multi-national client, since 2017. Since Kissel began, DDB has won more marketing effectiveness awards for McDonald’s than any other creative agency.
Kissel is a member of DDB Worldwide’s Executive Leadership Team and Omnicom’s Global Client Leaders team. He is also a member of the College of Media Alumni Leadership Council.
Herbert DaCosta, a graduate student in the journalism master’s degree program, was awarded the 2023-24 Thornton Tomasetti Foundation Technical Literacy Fellowship for his exceptional submittal to help the wider public understand and connect with climate change. DaCosta is a research development manager at the University of Illinois Office of Proposal Development.
The fellowship offers up to $5,000 in funding for projects that further the public’s technical literacy on environmental issues and other topics. Submittals were reviewed by Jim Glanz, New York Times international investigative reporter; Richard L. Tomasetti, consultant and founding principal; and Elisabeth Malsch, managing principal of Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.
DaCosta said he plans to use the fellowship to carry out the research needed to write about climate change in a way that a broader audience can understand.
“The fact that there is a significant percentage of the population who believes that climate change is a hoax means that we still have a large gap to reach when it comes to the academic community to reach [people’s] minds and hearts,” DaCosta said. “It is possible that although the academic community has sent out the message, it was not in a way in which the public could relate and understand. My goal is to give a small contribution to narrow that gap.”
“We’re extremely proud of Herbert for earning this fellowship where he can make an impact by improving how journalists communicate environmental issues to the public,” said Mira Sotirovic, associate professor and Karin and Folke Dovring Scholar in Propaganda, and head of the Department of Journalism. The Department of Journalism has prioritized the study of science and technology journalism, creating an online curriculum that begins Fall 2023.
In his current job, DaCosta supports the Illinois research community in the development of large and multidisciplinary grant proposals. The position, which he’s held since 2017, has been a great fit for DaCosta, who is a trained scientist with a passion for writing.
After obtaining a PhD in chemistry with minors in physics and computer engineering from the University of Florida and a Doctor of Science in chemistry from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, DaCosta worked as an industrial research engineer. He developed novel catalytic converters to decrease regulated emissions from diesel engines and new technologies to capture carbon dioxide and to convert it into useful products.
Realizing he liked writing more than research and development, DaCosta found a career in research development that allowed him to combine his science skills and his interest in writing.
DaCosta plans to complete his master’s degree in journalism at Illinois next year. He said his goal is to be able to “write about science for the wider community and to become better at assisting the Illinois research community in the development of large grant proposals.”
DaCosta feels it’s important to be able to communicate science and technology concepts clearly to educate others.
“Learning is more effective when the new lessons learned are built on previous knowledge,” he said. “Also, learning is enabling, in many ways. The more one learns, the more one can learn.”
Sydney Wood, a senior in journalism, explains their role as a producer for the 217 Today podcast with Illinois Public Media, and creating audio stories for Illinois Student Newsroom at Illinois Public Media. Through JOUR 400: Newsroom Experience, Wood gained audio journalism skills, got stories aired on IPM, and assisted students in JOUR 280: IPM Radio Practicum.
Hear more from Wood in this College of Media video series where students discuss their roles in campus and community engagement projects.
When it comes to career accomplishments, Jim Schlueter (BS ’80, journalism) could name a few, but none are quite as important to him as his ability to build up others.
It’s an honorable trait Schlueter has carried with him throughout his life—as an undergraduate student at Illinois, during his 33-year career in corporate communications, and more recently, as a very generous and passionate alum.
“If I think about accomplishments, really, it’s about helping people develop and grow and watching what they do,” Schlueter said.
Thanks to Schlueter’s contributions to the college, as well as his notable career achievements, the college’s leadership team agreed no one was more deserving of the 2023 College of Media Distinguished Alumni Award.
“Jim Schlueter has made many investments in the College of Media to benefit students now and in the future,” said Dean Tracy Sulkin. “We are so grateful for his engagement and for his desire to help make Illinois the number one destination for those who want to be part of the dynamic field of media.”
Schlueter is passionate about ensuring students stay ahead with new innovations and changing trends. In 2019, he and his wife, Amy, gave a generous gift to launch the Media Innovation Fund, which supports a wide range of activities that celebrate faculty excellence, faculty and student research, technology advancements, and cutting-edge pedagogy.
Schlueter said he felt humbled and honored when he learned of his nomination.
“I don’t do what I do to get awards, but to be recognized is a very, very special feeling because of [how I] feel about the University and the College of Media, the students, and the folks who have come before me and after me,” he said.
Schlueter, who grew up in rural Edwardsville, Illinois, and had always loved writing and sports, came to Illinois with a plan to study journalism. He joined the staff at The Daily Illini his sophomore year, covering women’s rugby, women’s cross-country, and men’s track. He became an executive reporter in sports his senior year covering football and basketball, and worked as a local stringer for the Associated Press.
“As much as I was looking forward to [attending the University of Illinois] … it was even better than I thought,” he said. “I met all my best friends there, I got to do experiences and things I couldn’t believe I was able to do, and I really stretched and learned a lot from my fellow students.”
After graduation, Schlueter worked as a reporter at a few newspapers, mostly covering the sports beat, and eventually earned his MBA in marketing from SIU-Edwardsville. In 1985, he went to work for an employee newspaper at McDonnell Douglas, an aerospace manufacturing corporation and defense contractor that eventually merged with Boeing in the late ’90s.
Schlueter said his career offered him a variety of opportunities that allowed him to support different fields within the aircraft industry including international communications, military products, and commercial airplanes. He spent the last six years of his career in Boeing’s corporate office in Chicago as the director of technology communications, finally retiring in 2018.
“I got to do a lot of things at an amazing company, so many different things that I can’t believe, from military programs and products to the space programs. I even worked a few shuttle launches, which is incredible,” he said.
Schlueter gives credit to his experience at Illinois, learning from some of the best professors alongside some of the brightest students, as well as his time at The Daily Illini for helping to shape his future career endeavors. He expressed gratitude for the journalism skills he gained that contributed to his success as a corporate communicator.
“When you’re a communications person at a company like Boeing, it behooves you to be able to write like a journalist writes and edit and dive into complicated questions and issues that really get to the heart of the matter,” he said.
Schlueter currently resides in Iowa with his wife, and they also have an apartment in Champaign. As lifelong season ticket holders, they come back to campus often for football and basketball games, and to visit the college for alumni commitments and events. Schlueter has served on the College of Media Alumni Leadership Council for more than a decade, sharing his professional insights and resources with faculty, staff, and students.
“It’s always been part and parcel of me, I guess, to stay connected and involved,” Schlueter said. “That feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself, and that you belong amongst it, is a big deal to me.”
In addition to kickstarting the Media Innovation Fund, a $50,000 donation from the Schlueters helped build the Media Technology Center, which offers a variety of technology and resources that students can check out or access online. The center opened in Fall 2022.
The couple also created the Schlueter Family Endowed Fund for Internships in Journalism to support students seeking real-world experience. Schlueter hopes their contributions will make a difference for Media students by enriching their education and preparing them to become future leaders in their field.
“I want Illinois to be on the forefront of the people who are coming up with the new ideas, the folks who are going to figure out how to do journalism for this century,” he said. “It’s going to be the students. They’re going to be the ones who figure it out.”
Tina E. Akouris (BS ’94, journalism), a digital content editor at the Chicago Tribune, won the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headline Club for Best Sports Reporting in the large/online print newsroom category. Akouris won the award for coverage of the 50th anniversary of Title IX along with Colleen Kane, Meghan Montemurro, Julia Poe, Kori Rumore, Stacy St. Clair, and Amanda Kaschube. Akouris also won a Jones-Beck Award in April for Outstanding Professional Performance for her work on the Chicago Tribune’s audience team.
Winners include journalism graduate student Manu Ferreira for “Succeeding in a New World” in the Non-Fiction – Long Form category; journalism and political science dual-degree undergraduate student J. Sidney Malone for “Egg Prices” in the Multimedia Journalist category; and journalism undergraduate students Emmie Larson and Adrian Carrasco for “Illini Sports Night Pregame Special for Illinois Women’s Basketball” in the College Sports Program category. The pregame coverage was also the first show that Illini Sports Night aired on the B1G+ network. (Pictured above is the Illini Sports Night pregame show team.)
Ferreira and Larson also earned a nomination for “UI7 Live Special Report: Decision 2022” for live coverage of the 2022 election in the category of College Newscast. In addition, Malone was a finalist in the News Report – Light News category for “Egg Prices Are Up. Should You Buy a Chicken?”
Congratulations to these College of Media students who received campus and college awards and honors, and scholarships and fellowships that were made possible thanks to our donors.
HONORS
Bronze Tablet Inscription on the Bronze Tablets in the Main Library recognizes students ranking in the top three percent of their graduating class.
Noah Balduf
Shelby Kate Hagerman
Owen Reilly Henderson
Deja Angelique Hill
Jillian Horvatin
Jennifer Hu Li
Emily Norine McNaughton
Patrick Winter
Sydney Madison Wood
Highest Honors For 2022-2023, the Highest Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors with a 3.97 to 4.0 GPA. (Ranges are based on percentages and may change slightly each year.)
Noah Balduf
Abbey Marie Burke
Tristen Clark
Shelby Kate Hagerman
Owen Reilly Henderson
Deja Angelique Hill
Jillian Horvatin
Jennifer Hu Li
Mogan McDonnell
Emily Norine McNaughton
Priyanka Nair
Brianna Pietrzak
Patrick Winter
Sydney Madison Wood
High Honors For 2022-2023, the High Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors with a 3.93 to 3.96 GPA. (Ranges are based on percentages and may change slightly each year.)
Mona Alrazzaq
Emily Anne Christopher
Matthew Fanelli
Taylor Gatz
Francesca Gonnella
Jackson Janes
Ryan Leshock
Rachel Maeng
Jane Molenda
Aniruddha Pai
Griffith Pool
Gabriella G. Trani
Matthew Troher
Oscar Villalobos
Yihan Wang
Rachael Yao
David Zelkowitz
Jia Zeng
Honors For 2022-2023, the Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors with a 3.86 to 3.92 GPA. (Ranges are based on percentages and may change slightly each year.)
Maggie Beese
Natalie Anne Belloff
Sumin Cho
Catalina Anahee Delgado
Giovanna DiTullio
Carley Morgan Edwards
Carson Barrett Gourdie
Maxwell Kurtock
Alyssa Leveille
Kelly Kieuvan Ly
Justin Sidney Malone
Kayla Mish
Margaret Morris
Sasha Olevsky
Amanda Katherine Powell
Miriam Sadkhin
Danielle D. Schleyer
Lauren Sebek
Jintian Song
Samantha G. Sorich
Brynne Peyton Spears
Xiaoyu Su
Minghao Sun
Myka Bailey Thies
Makayla Wilson
Tyler William Wurster
James Scholars This university-wide honors program encourages James Scholars to develop skills in leadership and service, research or honors coursework, service learning and global studies, and professional development.
Natalia Catalina Alfaro
Emily Anne Christopher
Catalina Anahee Delgado
Giovanna DiTullio
Isabelle Downey
Carley Morgan Edwards
Kiley Fletcher
Shelby Kate Hagerman
Owen Reilly Henderson
Jillian Horvatin
Ryan Leshock
Mackenzie Mae Lyerla
Justin Sidney Malone
Emily Norine McNaughton
Jane Molenda
Zoe Lewis Nielsen
Sasha Olevsky
Aniruddha Pai
Robyn Emily Pease
Griffith Pool
Danielle D. Schleyer
Sydney Madison Wood
David Zelkowitz
Kappa Tau Alpha This college honor society recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.
Noah Balduf
Taylor Gatz
Francesca Gonnella
Ryan Leshock
Emily Norine McNaughton
Brianna Pietrzak
Sydney Madison Wood
David Zelkowitz
Senior 100 Honorary This campus honor recognizes academics, leadership, service, and engagement at the University of Illinois.
Zoe Lewis Nielsen
Nate Walinder
AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, & FELLOWSHIPS
American Advertising Federation’s 50 Most Promising Multicultural Students Each year, the American Advertising Federation selects the 50 Most Promising Multicultural Students in the nation. Since the program began in 1997, the AAF Illinois chapter has had more winners than any other university or college. Winners participate in a three-day industry immersion program (when held in-person) with the highest-level industry executives and companies in New York City. They are also recognized at the annual Building Bridges for Our Future awards luncheon with top industry professionals and organizations.
Julie Garcia
Asia Griffin
Carmen Larios
Kassandra Leyva
Blake Morrow
Marvin Sosa
Betty Hinckle Dunn Memorial Scholarship Mr. Lyman Dunn, a graduate of the University of Illinois, established this scholarship in memory of his wife at the time of her death. Mrs. Dunn was a journalism graduate and a longtime officer of Women in Communications. Mr. Dunn died in 1986. The fund supports an undergraduate scholarship and an annual public lecture by a distinguished journalist.
Farrah Anderson
Madison Holcomb
Ashley Howerter
Nour Longi
Bill Geist Broadcast Journalism Writing Prize This endowment was established in 1998 by alumnus Bill Geist, CBS correspondent and best-selling author. The award is presented to an undergraduate student majoring in broadcast journalism who demonstrates extraordinary ability and creativity in writing and reporting news for radio and television.
Sydney Wood
Brett Lerner Memorial Scholarship in Journalism This scholarship celebrates the life of Brett Lerner whose untimely death in 2015 lead to an outpouring of support from the campus community and across the country. Brett was a junior studying journalism who inspired many with his tremendous talent, professionalism, and drive to succeed. Those closest to Brett knew him as a very bright young man with an amazing future ahead of him in the sports broadcasting field. His parents, Richard and Susan Pomerantz, were instrumental in establishing the fund and providing a way for family members, friends, and Brett’s many professional and personal connections to honor his legacy. The Lerner Scholarship is awarded to a talented undergraduate student with a passion for journalism and demonstrated experience working for a high school or college newspaper or other journalism work experience.
Kayla Mish
C&U Poster Advertising Company Scholarship This scholarship is awarded to a senior majoring in advertising. It was created by Kip Pope to honor Robert P. Pope and Barbara G. Pope and in memory of Fred and Bertha Gillingham. Mr. Pope is the former president of C&U Poster.
Deja Hill
C. Arthur and Eleanor Hemminger Scholarship The late Eleanor Garm Hemminger was a 1939 graduate of the University, and established this endowment through her estate. Arthur Hemminger was a 1930 journalism graduate. Scholarships are presented to deserving undergraduate media students.
Abbey Burke
Tristen Clark
Anjana Gulapalyam
Sofia Kanda
Jennifer Li
Kelly Ly
Olivia Rice
Leopold Smat
C.O. “Doc” Erickson Scholarship in Journalism This scholarship was established in 2006 by the late University of Illinois alumnus and film producer C.O. “Doc” Erickson, who worked with many Hollywood directors, including Alfred Hitchcock on “To Catch a Thief” and “Vertigo,” and with John Houston on “The Misfits.” The scholarship is presented to undergraduate students enrolled in journalism.
Piotr Fedczuk
Calvin Hugy Scholarship This endowment was established from the Calvin E. Hugy estate. Mr. Hugy was a 1950 journalism graduate. He retired as vice president of Pacific Eurpac Service, Inc., of Greenwich, Connecticut. The scholarship is presented to deserving undergraduate media students.
Gabriella Blangiardo
Francesca Dumitrescu
Shelby Hagerman
Sizhe Huang
Annalee Mattson
Emily McNaughton
Cardiss Collins Scholarship for Diversity in Advertising Established by the American Advertising Federation in 1996 to honor Illinois’ first black congresswoman, Rep. Cardiss Collins, this scholarship is awarded to a minority student intending to pursue advertising studies.
William Morrow
Carl and Ruth S. Stephens Scholarship The Stephens family bequeathed a farm to the College of Communications in the mid-1980s. Proceeds from its operation and eventual sale in 1990 have been used to endow this scholarship for journalism students who demonstrate academic merit and/or financial need.
Sydney O’Brien
Jacqueline Barba
Stephanie Mosqueda
Charla Krupp Endowed Scholarship for Internships in Journalism As a 1975 journalism graduate, Charla Krupp was an inspiration to students, faculty, and professionals alike with her ambition, enthusiasm, and accomplishments. She had a strong desire to help students establish careers in major media markets, such as New York City. It was Ms. Krupp’s wish that the College of Media develop a valuable and practical internship program on her behalf, delivering a rich, diverse multimedia learning experience to allow students to gain hands-on skills for a successful career in journalism.
Vivian La
Charles G. Sotir Journalism Scholarship This scholarship is made possible from funds donated by alumnus Charles G. Sotir and his wife, Mary, of Evanston, Illinois. The award is given to a journalism undergraduate student with academic merit.
Jonna Harris
Christopher Allen Scholarship The Christopher L. Allen Scholarship is awarded to academically meritorious juniors and seniors enrolled in the College of Media or in the Department of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The scholarship was established in memory of Christopher Allen, a 1983 graduate of Illinois who had an outstanding political career, both at the state and national levels.
Max Kurtock
Luke McKenna
Atlas Vanzanten
College of Media Alumni Scholarship Established in 1943 by alumni donations, this endowment provides awards to outstanding College of Media students, based on scholarship, character and professional achievement.
Francesca Dumitrescu
Priyanka Nair
College of Media Annual Fund Scholarship These scholarships are funded through contributions to the College of Media Annual Fund from alumni and friends. They are awarded to students based on their scholarship, character and professional achievement.
Francisco Albarran
Raegan Gooding
Samuel Greenblatt
Sofia Kanda
Mattie Kennel
William Nelson
Konrad Przeczek
Bo Ravanh
College of Media Endowed Scholarship This scholarship is made available each year to outstanding undergraduate students within any college degree program and is based on financial need, academic merits, or both. Alumni and friends make gifts to the fund annually.
Ayesha Baweja
Aniruddha Pai
Daily Illini Journalism Scholarship Fund This fund was established in 2020 by Sarah Min (BS ’93, journalism) and Matthew Pincus of the Sarah Min and Matthew Pinkus Foundation, to benefit undergraduate journalism students who are committed to working at least one semester at The Daily Illini. Sarah Min is a digital media consultant in New York City.
TBD
Daniel and Nancy Balz Endowed Fund in Journalism In 2013, Dan and Nancy Balz brought their love of an Illinois education to life by establishing their first scholarship. Dan received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism and went on to be an internationally recognized correspondent for The Washington Post. Nancy has degrees from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Library and Information Science. The fund from their endowment will be used for either scholarship or internship support for journalism students in the College of Media.
Emmie Larson
Isabella Zarate
David Shaul Endowed Scholarship in Journalism David Shaul (BS ’63, journalism), personified what local television news should be. He was an integral part of Champaign-Urbana, as a professional broadcaster and citizen, for more than five decades. He was an ethical journalist known for his experience, professionalism and rich knowledge of central Illinois. He set the standard for quality television journalism and was honored by several friends and family who created this scholarship in his honor in 2018. The scholarship honors an undergraduate journalism student based on academic merit.
Dalila Divanovic
Dawn M. Turner and Kim D. Turner Endowed Scholarship in Media Dawn M. Turner (BS ’87 journalism) a former columnist and reporter for the Chicago Tribune, established this scholarship in 2018 in honor of her late sister Kim. The fund supports undergraduate scholarships and experiential learning opportunities for College of Media students with a demonstrated financial need, giving preference to African American students. Dawn hopes to inspire students to seek out untold stories to counteract the negativity we often see in the media.
Evie Edwards
Deanna Frautschi and Alan Bedell Scholarship This scholarship fund was established in 2018 by Deanna Frautschi (BS ’70, Advertising) and her husband Alan Bedell, to benefit College of Media juniors and seniors, regardless of their major. Deanna retired after a 33-year career as executive vice president of communications and human resources for COUNTRY Financial and wants College of Media students to reap the benefits of an Illinois education, just as she did.
Cameron Taylor
Department of Advertising Scholarship Established in 2004 by alumni donations to the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising Annual Fund, this current use fund provides awards to outstanding College of Media students, based on scholarship, character and professional achievement.
Samantha Barajas
Emily Hong Chen
Rawan El-Bawab
Meghna Goli
Jillian Horvatin
Saborni Kundu
Julianna Nunez
Ivana Salto Lopez De Llergo
Nancy Zhang
Department of Journalism Scholarship This fund was established in 1982 by alumni donations to the Department of Journalism Scholarship Fund. It provides awards to outstanding College of Media students, based on scholarship, character and professional achievement.
Zeno Jo
Donald E. Chamberlain Journalism Scholarship This award is presented to outstanding journalism students on the basis of academic performance and promise of success in the field. The award was established in 1956 by the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association in memory of Mr. Chamberlain. The ILCA dates back to 1946. Mr. Chamberlain worked with state and legislative leaders to establish modern pressroom facilities for the association in 1947.
Alexander Winton
Donald P. Mullally Internship at Illinois Public Media A scholar and true visionary for public radio and television, Don Mullally served as General Manager at the NPR and PBS stations licensed to the University of Illinois from the early 1970s until his retirement in 2005 – well into the Internet age. The Donald P. Mullally Endowment was established with gifts made in his honor at the time of his retirement. Mullally passed away in early 2015. Interest from the endowed fund supports a paid internship at WILL in the fall and spring semesters each year.
Aniyha Jones
Earl M. Cummings Advertising Education Research Award These are academic research awards given to Master’s in Advertising students who demonstrate great promise in research.
Alexander Ambrosio
Catherine Arreazola
Paris Baptiste
Xinle Du
Masashi Fukada
Ruo-Yu “Joyce” Huang
Dongchan Lee
Floria Yujin Lee
Jingyu Liu
Veranika Paltaratskaya
Nisa Purbita Rahman
Prativa Subedi
Geng Sun
Ed Wilks Memorial Scholarship in Journalism This scholarship was established in 1988 by the Ambassadors, a St. Louis charitable and civic organization. Mr. Wilks graduated from the University of Illinois in 1950 and went on to a fine career in journalism. He worked with The Associated Press and for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he was executive sports editor for most of his 34 years in the business. This scholarship is for undergraduate journalism students interested in newspaper careers.
Victoria Olaleye
Florence Hood Miner Scholarship in Journalism This endowment was established in 1998 by Florence Hood Miner of Castle Rock, Colorado. Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in journalism, with a preference to students working for The Daily Illini or a similar student newspaper.
Tara Mobasher
Florence J. Johnson Scholarship The Florence J. Johnson Endowed Fund was created in July 2014 in memory of Florence J. Johnson, a 1945 journalism graduate who gifted the fund to the College of Media from her estate.
Sofia Cesarone
Daden Gabryszewski
Grace He
Nathaniel Murphy
Megan Wood
Forsyth Family Endowed Scholarship Created in 2014 by Illinois alumni Bill and Martha Forsyth, this renewable scholarship is awarded based on academic merit. The Forsyths know that media is a rapidly changing industry. This scholarship will help students gain the experience they need to make an impact in the industry and be innovative leaders.
Emily Christopher
George Will Endowed Scholarship The George Will Endowment Fund was created in 2014 in honor of George Will, a local University Laboratory High School graduate and a 1977 Pulitzer Prize-winning political commentator for The Washington Post. Will was named a member of Uni High’s “Class of the Century” in 2022. The scholarship is awarded to an outstanding College of Media student.
Emily Hong Chen
Gerald P. Johnson Scholarship A 1951 graduate of Illinois, Gerald Johnson was an engaged community member and great enthusiast of local sports. To honor Gerry and his lifelong interest in sports broadcasting, his family established the Gerald P. Johnson Endowment Fund in the fall of 2013. The fund provides merit-based awards for either scholarships or internships to undergraduates with an interest in broadcast journalism.
Alex Bahena
Ehkhjin Erdenekhuyag
Gerald Robert Bland Scholarship Established by Wilma R. Bland from her estate to honor her late husband, Gerald Robert Bland, this scholarship is presented to students in journalism.
Antonio Elvir-Hernandez
Glenn Hanson Scholarship in Visual Communication Presented in honor of longtime journalism faculty member Glenn Hanson, this scholarship is awarded to a journalism student studying graphic arts.
Rolando Mendez
Glenn Holman Roberts Journalism Scholarship This award was established by the late Glenn H. Roberts, a 1947 University of Illinois journalism graduate. Mr. Roberts retired after 39 years as the vice president of research for The Des Moines Register and then was the head of his own research firm. The fund provides scholarships to juniors or seniors who have proven ability in journalism courses, have extracurricular journalistic experience and demonstrate a particular interest in print journalism.
Arianna Williams
Goldie Maxine Cord and Marcus Franklin Cord Scholarship This scholarship was established in memory of Goldie Maxine Cord, a 1936 journalism graduate. The scholarship is presented to a third-year journalism student.
Anulika Ochuba
H. Maxine Gladding Greenwood Scholarship This award was established in 2001 by James Greenwood to honor his wife, Maxine, a 1938 journalism graduate. Mrs. Greenwood was a feature writer for the Moline Daily Dispatch and was the first woman on its display advertising staff. The fund provides scholarships, fellowships and teaching awards as appropriate. Students receiving scholarships are chosen for academic achievement and financial need.
Dalila Divanovic
Harold E. and Dorothy Johnson Sortor Journalism Scholarship This scholarship was established in 1988 by Harold E. and Dorothy Johnson Sortor of Savannah, Georgia, who wished to acknowledge their appreciation to the University of Illinois by providing financial recognition to outstanding journalism students. The scholarship is based on academic merit.
Colin Hislope
Harold Gustave Roettger Memorial Award This award is presented to outstanding graduating seniors in Media and is based on academic performance and membership in Kappa Tau Alpha, a national communications honorary society.
Noah Balduf
Deja Hill
Sydney Wood
Helen C. and Theodore B. Peterson Scholarship This scholarship was established in 1998 in memory of Theodore B. Peterson, former dean of the College of Communications, now the College of Media. Dean Peterson’s wife, Helen Peterson, passed away in 2007, and the scholarship now bears both of their names.
Jakob Stutz
Hugh Hough Memorial – Media This fund was established in 1986 by Hugh Hough’s wife Ellen Wasemann Hough and other donors to honor Hugh Hough, a 1951 journalism graduate. Hugh Hough was an author who received a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting with Art Petacque for uncovering new evidence that led to the reopening of efforts to solve the 1966 murder of Valerie Percy. The scholarship is awarded to a journalism student, who, based on professional interest and academic achievement, shows promise of continuing Hugh Hough’s legacy as a journalist.
Joshua Pietsch
Ian Fleming Foundation Undergraduate Research Scholarship The Ian Fleming Foundation (IFF) Undergraduate Research Scholarship has been donated by the Ian Fleming Foundation to honor the late Ian Lancaster Fleming, a journalist, critic, travel writer, and author of the James Bond novels. The IFF was formed in 1992 by Dr. Michael L. VanBlaricum, John Cord, and Douglas Redenies, and this scholarship was established by the IFF in 2014. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide incentive and support to outstanding undergraduate students to become involved in primary media and/or film research with College of Media faculty. Funds are offered each year to undergraduate students who possess an outstanding track record of academic achievement along with independent research potential.
Evelyn Cabrea
Yun Hyuk (Alex) Choi
Paul Duarte-Noe
Alexander Gallegos
Sizhe Huang
Trent Miles
Illinois Broadcaster’s Association Scholarship in Journalism This scholarship was established in 2004 for an undergraduate journalism student majoring in broadcast journalism who demonstrates talent, commitment, excellence, and professional ambition in broadcasting. The student must have a superior record of academic performance and be the top student preparing to enter their senior year.
J. Sidney Malone
Iris Chang Journalism Award This award was established in memory of Iris Chang by her family and friends. Ms. Chang was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and grew up in Champaign-Urbana, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Illinois in 1989. She established herself as an invaluable source of information about Asia, human rights and Asian American history with her international best seller, The Rape of Nanking. Seniors in journalism are eligible.
Chiffon Claiborne
Olabisi Efunnuga
Jackson Janes
James Webb Young Assistantships in Advertising James Webb Young was one of the great pioneers and most honored figures in advertising. Mr. Young, a self-educated man who authored four textbooks on advertising, enjoyed a distinguished career that lasted six decades and bridged two centuries. It began with the writing of direct response advertising and continued to include, among other achievements, the creation of several now-classic ads and the founding of the Advertising Council. The fund was established at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1959. One of its main goals is to improve advertising by attracting talented graduate students from all over the world.
Masashi Fukada
Jay Lin Scholarship Jay Lin (MS ’89, advertising), the first mainland Chinese student to receive a master’s degree from oversees, created the Jay Lin Scholarship Fund in 2018. It was his dream to someday give back to the University of Illinois’ next generation of advertising students after receiving support via the James Webb Young Scholarship when he was a student. This scholarship honors an advertising student in the college.
Caroline Field
Jenny Lenzini Memorial Scholarship in Journalism The family of Jenny Lenzini (BS ’16, journalism) established a scholarship to help make education more affordable for University of Illinois students, to fund their passions, and to honor her legacy. Jenny passed away tragically on November 15, 2020, at the age of 26. At Illinois, Jenny worked for The Daily Illini, was a member of Chi Omega sorority, and helped lead UI-7 News to a NATAS Crystal Pillar Award for the best college newscast in Mid-America. This scholarship supports an undergraduate junior or senior journalism student with undergraduate scholarships or experiential learning opportunities.
Yuzhu Liu
Joe Sutton Honorary Scholarship This award was established by the late June Sleeman, University of Illinois journalism alumna, and her late husband, Tom Sleeman, who was president of Unocal Chemicals in Los Angeles, to honor Joe Sutton, former assistant dean, associate professor in journalism and editor of Illinois Alumni News. Joe was a key person in the instructional program of the Department of Journalism and had the responsibility for the core of news writing and editing courses. The award provides a scholarship to a female print journalism student enrolled in the College of Media—who is or has been on the staff of The Daily Illini—on the basis of academic performance and promise of success in journalism.
Jacqueline Barba
Joel D. and Analee Weisman Scholarship Established in 1999 by Joel D. Weisman and Analee Rudich Weisman, this scholarship is given to an undergraduate student who is working, either part-time or full-time, at a job that involves journalism, marketing or management. Students with financial need are given preference. Joel Weisman is an attorney, talent representative and Emmy Award-winning Chicago television host and commentator. While a student he met his wife, Analee, and worked as a sportswriter columnist for The Daily Illini and The News-Gazette.
Nathalie Murillo
John H. and Sylvia N. Schacht Memorial Scholarship John Schacht was a longtime journalism faculty member who was an editor of The Daily Illini as an undergraduate. His father was previously editor-in-chief of the paper. Sylvia N. Schacht taught English at the University for 25 years. This scholarship was created by the Schacht family in honor of their parents. It is presented to an undergraduate student who is a staff member of The Daily Illini.
Zoe Nielsen
John R. Foreman Scholarship The Marajen Stevick Foundation established the John R. Foreman Scholarship fund in honor of John Foreman’s “outstanding service” to The News-Gazette, the community and the profession of journalism. A 1977 journalism alum, Foreman began his career at The News-Gazette as a reporter and was later promoted to state editor, city editor, managing editor, editor, and general manager. The scholarship underscores Foreman’s respect for education at all levels and his commitment to journalism and to the University of Illinois. The award provides internship or scholarship assistance to undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Journalism.
Talia Duffy
Logan Hodson
John T. Trebilcock Memorial Award This memorial fund was established to honor the late John Trebilcock, a journalism teacher. The award recognizes a Daily Illini reporter judged to have done the year’s best investigative reporting. The Daily Illini staff chooses the recipient and matches the College of Media award.
Sarah Bond
Judy Blasdell Bligh Endowed Journalism Scholarship Judy Blasdell Bligh was a 1969 University of Illinois Advertising graduate who worked in journalism, primarily in copy editing and proofreading. She worked for University of Illinois Press, The Library at 190 S. Lasalle in Chicago, Fearon-Pitman Publishers in California, and Apple in Seattle, Washington, during her long career. The scholarship was named in Judy Blasdell Bligh’s honor upon her passing in April 2020. It recognizes outstanding students in the Department of Journalism.
Jasper Doney
Jules and Jody Anne Becker Scholarship This scholarship was established by the late Jules Becker and Jody Anne Becker to assist journalism or advertising students. Mr. Becker, of Becker & Company Public Relations-Advertising in San Rafael, California, attributed his outstanding journalistic education and solid foundation for life to the college.
Piotr Fedczuk
Karen Lucas Petitte Endowed Scholarship in Journalism Karen Petitte holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois. While at Illinois, Karen was among the first women selected as editor-in-chief of The Daily Illini. She has worked for the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Daily News, Consumers Digest, Modern Healthcare, and Modern Physician, the latter two published by Chicago-based Crain Communications, Inc. She has served as the first woman president of the Chicago Newspaper Guild and as Chicago’s consumer affairs commissioner under Mayor Jane Byrne. In 2007 she was inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and the Illini Media Hall of Fame. The award is given to a student majoring in journalism based on academic merit and financial need.
Megan Krok
Klues Scholars In 2015, the Jack M. Klues and Elizabeth F. Klues Family Foundation established an endowment in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising to fund scholarships and experiential learning opportunities for underrepresented students with significant financial need. The gift was initiated by Jack Klues, a 1977 advertising alum, who began his career as an account executive in the media department at Leo Burnett. In 1996, he was part of the management team that created Starcom, and in 2003, following the acquisition by Publicis Groupe, he served as global CEO for Publicis Groupe Media. From 2007 until his retirement in 2012, he served as global CEO and Directoire member with oversight of media agencies, as well as Digitas and Razorfish under Publicis’ holding company’s digital and media agency, Vivaki. Mr. Klues has served in many volunteer leadership roles for the College of Media, including the James Webb Young Board, and has served on the board of directors for the Off the Street Club in Chicago for more than 25 years. His family’s gift will assist the college in its goal of building a more diverse student population, which ultimately improves diversity within the advertising industry.
Sophia Cepeda
Catalina Delgado
Maria Mancero
Joshua McWhorter
Lulu Kelly Nardine Awards Three awards are given to journalism students who have demonstrated excellence in writing. The late Gretchen Nardine Doris of Tampa, Florida, established this scholarship in memory of her mother.
Carley Edwards
Owen Henderson
Sydney Wood
Lynne Blanton Student Travel Fund Marilyn Dean DeRamus Blanton established this endowment to provide travel funds for graduate students in the Institute of Communications Research (ICR) in honor of her daughter, Lynne Blanton, who earned a Ph.D. in 1979 from the Institute under the direction of Professor Albert L. Kreiling.
Ariana Cano
Jiyeon Chang
Kirby Cook
Yiran Gao
Stephanie Gomez-Perez
Jingyi Gu
Namita Gupta
Seo-Jeong Heo
Ruochong “Alice” Ji
Woojin Kim
Seo Yoon Lee
Anirban Mukhopadhyay
Ji Won Oh
Yeahin “Jane” Pyo
Jorge Rojas Alvarez
Elizabeth Simpson
Yanyun “Mia” Wang
Shiyue “Jennifer” Zhang
Mengqing “Maggie” Zhang
Marian and Barney Brody Creative Feature Article Writing Awards in Journalism These awards were established in 1996 through the generosity of Marian Boruck Brody, a 1937 journalism graduate, who passed away in 2016. The awards are presented to journalism graduate or undergraduate students judged to have reported and written the best student feature articles during the academic year.
Sarah Bond for “Daily Bread soup kitchen”
Marilyn Miller Kaytor Scholarships Established from the estate of Marilyn Miller Kaytor, one of the first journalists to make a career of writing about food for a mass audience, this endowed fund supports scholarships for undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Journalism.
Siona Ahuja
Michael Bergonzi
Jordan Butler
Kathryn Dalton
Talia Duffy
Ariyelle Edwards
Enkhjin Erdenekhuyag
Benjamin Fader
Elizabeth Fawley
Ryan Hastings
Kayla Henry
Logan Hodson
Jackson Janes
Benjamin Kovar
Vivian La
Jacob Larson
Faith Lee
Hannah Lonergan
Nour Longi
Justin Malone
Haley Maser
Stephanie Mosqueda
Darryl Norwood
Humza Qazi
Emilio Reyes
Julissa Reyes
Emily Richie
Liliana Rodriguez
Adam Rosen
Thomas Rot
Angel Saldivar
Gwyneth Skiles
Victoria Trevino
Mariah Trujillo
Lathanial Wells
Julia Youman
Isabella Zarate
Media Underrepresented Scholarship Fund Endowed in 2020 by alumni donations, this scholarship provides awards to outstanding College of Media underrepresented students, based on scholarship, character, and financial need.
Oscar Villalobos
Murray Kalis Awards for Creativity in Advertising Murray Kalis (BS ’61, advertising) had a long and successful career in the advertising business, creating Kalis, Inc. He spent most of his career as a creative director and established this fund in 2020 to emphasize to students the importance of creativity in advertising. The awards are given to students majoring in advertising in recognition of excellence in creativity in advertising. The criteria for these awards includes smart positioning, outstanding creative concept, strong execution, and a “wow” factor.
Claire Hulen – Best Single Ad
Claire Hulen and Zoe Nielsen – Best Campaign
Maggie Beese – Best Portfolio
Nelio A. Florio and Patricia M. Florio Scholarship in Journalism Patricia Florio established this scholarship in honor of her husband, the late Nelio Florio, a 1938 journalism graduate. Nelio was a sports writer on The Daily Illini and served as sports editor of Trans-Radio News, the Southtown Economist, the Garfieldian, and the Austin News. Later he joined Western Electric and served for 31 years as editor of its newspaper and then at the Oak Park Journal as sports editor. The award is presented to an undergraduate journalism student.
Jakob Stutz
Paul C. Fulton Scholarship This scholarship fund was created by Mrs. Ester Fulton to honor her late husband, Paul, a longtime advertising executive with the Chicago Tribune. The scholarship is awarded to juniors or seniors who maintain academic excellence and demonstrate proficiency in their field.
Demi Apostolakos
Jacqueline Leveille
Paul Schrage-McDonald’s Fellowship in Advertising Paul D. Schrage received his master’s degree in advertising from the College of Communications in 1959. A marketing wizard for McDonald’s Corporation since 1967, Mr. Schrage deployed the “Golden Arches” synonymous with the fast-food giant and is credited with many of the chain’s other key innovations. In 2005, the Paul Schrage-McDonald’s Corporation Graduate Fellowship in Advertising Fund was established to support excellence in graduate education in advertising.
Alfonso Gonzalez Diaz
Prativa Subedi
Paula L. Gottschalk Scholarship The estate of Paula Gottschalk (BS ’66, advertising) provides fellowships for advertising students and scholarships for undergraduate students in journalism.
Joana Salto Lopez De Llergo
Yanglu Wang
Raymond O. Torr Memorial Scholarship in Journalism Illinois Journalism alumnus Raymond Torr was the public relations director for the National Fund for Medical Education. Upon his death, his colleagues established this memorial to honor his legacy. The award is presented to a graduating senior who shows promise of a successful professional career in journalism.
Ashleigh Kendrick
Richard Hildwein Memorial Photojournalism Award Presented in honor of longtime faculty member Richard “Dick” Hildwein, this scholarship is awarded to a journalism student with an interest in photojournalism.
Carson Gourdie
Richard Tuttle Orr Scholarship This scholarship was established in 1993 by Richard Tuttle Orr of Chicago, a University of Illinois journalism graduate. He was a Chicago Tribune staff member, and served as president of the Chicago Press Club and the Newspaper Farm Editors of America. The award provides scholarships based on academic merit and/or financial need to undergraduate students who are majoring or intend to major in journalism.
Farrah Anderson
Ehkhjin Erdenekhuyag
Katherine Ratke
Emilio Reyes
Shawn Sloan
Robert N. and Lorraine M. Wilt Scholarship Robert and Lorraine Wilt were journalism graduates and later co-publishers of the Muncy Luminary in Muncy, Pennsylvania. Initially Robert Wilt established this scholarship in memory of his wife. After Mr. Wilt’s death, an additional bequest was added to the original fund, and now the scholarship honors them both. The scholarship is presented to an outstanding female journalism student.
Hannah Lonergan
Robert O. Endres Endowed Internship at Illinois Public Media Robert O. Endres created this fund in 2017 to support internships with WILL. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degree from the College of Media and during his time at Illinois he worked at both WPGU and WILL. Endres had a long, distinguished career as a projectionist including 25 years at Radio City Music Hall.
Arianna Williams
Roger Ebert Fellows in Media Criticism In recognition of Roger Ebert’s career in journalism, the Roger Ebert Fellows program was established in 2015 to provide learning experiences that focus on critical thinking and interpretative journalism. As a key component of the Roger Ebert Center, a select group of Illinois students experience in-depth mentoring by professional critics as they attend film festivals and write for Illinois Public Media and The Daily Illini—Roger’s beloved student newspaper.
Lee “Levi” Beckett
Andrew Stover
Tania Trejo
S. Watson and Elizabeth S. Dunn Fellowship Samuel Watson Dunn was the first PhD graduate from the University of Illinois with an advertising focus. He later returned to the University of Illinois to head the Department of Advertising from 1966-1977. Dr. Dunn was a major force in advertising education, especially in the graduate arena. This fellowship program was created by Dr. and Mrs. Dunn to honor his legacy.
Olga Shabalina
Schlueter Family Endowed Fund for Internships in Journalism James E. Schlueter is a 1980 graduate of the College of Media School of Journalism. A native of Edwardsville, Illinois, Schlueter was a sportswriter and columnist for The Daily Illini, and was a sportswriter and editor for five years before joining The Boeing Company. He is the second member of his family to earn a degree from the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Amy, are both grateful for the opportunities they have received as alumni from Big Ten universities and are proud and privileged to help future students secure future career success through internships.
J. Sidney Malone
Veronica Ponterelli Toussaint and Dr. Paul Toussaint Scholarship Fund Veronica Pontarelli Toussaint (BS ’92 and MS ’93, Advertising) and her husband, Dr. Paul Toussaint, a physician at Amita Health Medical Group, established this scholarship in 2016. Veronica was formerly Vice President of Scholarship for the Chicago North Shore Alumnae Panhellenic Association and started her career as an Account Executive at Shaker Advertising. This fund provides scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students in the Department of Advertising, with preference for residents of the State of Illinois.
Ryan Leshock
Wilkey Scholarship for Print Journalism This scholarship was established by the Wilkey family in 2007 to reward a junior or senior enrolled in print journalism who displays good mentoring abilities, among other worthy attributes.
Yunah Elsner
Wilma M. Haist Journalism Memorial Scholarship This memorial fund was a bequest by Wilma M. Haist to honor her late husband, Lt. Col Glade F. Haist, United States Air Force, Class of 1936. The scholarship is to assist journalism students in need of aid and who strive to report news as it really is.
Get to know some of our College of Media alumni.Isabel Morales(BS ’13, journalism) is the media relations manager at The Nature Conservancy. Morales also participated in a Media Career Night alumni panel on “Nonprofits” in Spring 2022. Watch a recording of the session here.
Why did you major in journalism and how has it influenced your career path? Majoring in broadcast journalism came from following a passion of reading, writing, and pop culture growing up. In high school I worked on the interviewing and design/layout of our school newspaper, which played a role in my decision to major in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a freshman I got involved in The Daily Illini as a page designer, allowing me to try out so many different aspects of news later on such as editing and radio segments. Having the ability to dip into different areas of interest, I fell in love with the production side of journalism! So I found an internship at a local TV station practicing pulling segments as a news anchor. I got my first broadcast journalism job at WNBC, which fostered my ideal company culture with the amount of nurture and willingness to learn from each other. I then moved on to a concept producer for an NBC affiliate in Chicago, where I would work overnight cutting scripts and writing articles. After my time in NBC, I had a complete lifestyle change where I became a PR coordinator for the Museum of Science and Industry. I realized at this job that I enjoyed storytelling and being a voice for a brand. My current role is with The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, where I use my storytelling abilities through visual media, producing news, and being a reporter.
What is one of your favorite memories as a College of Media student? For one of my broadcasting classes we had to check out equipment, one being a giant tripod. I remember being on the Quad with my classmates feeling silly with all the equipment we had to have tracking down students for a quick quote, but having my peers who were also so passionate in this career made this memory so sentimental to me. After being on the Quad we would all go edit our pieces together, learn from one another, and form an inclusive environment. The College of Media being a small college really unites and promotes a close-knit community, which I found in my classes and being a part of the college overall.
How do you think the College of Media prepared you for your career? The college prepared me in so many ways! Connecting with your classmates, special guests, professors, and resources go a long way. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in general has endless opportunities with internships, professional development events, classes, and overall embraces you to explore new and a variety of things.
What are three skills that you think a Media student needs to be successful? First, be curious! Curiosity innovates ideas and interests. Second, be transparent with yourself and the work you are accomplishing. Know why you are pursuing what you want and be transparent with who you are working with to maintain clarity. Last but not least, be flexible. There are going to be days where you have a variety of things to do or things that may not go your way but having the ability to adapt in your environment will go a long way.
What advice do you have for current Media students? Try out what you can and what you have time for! Don’t overwhelm yourself; quality over quantity. I’d also say to put yourself in a space where you can have a continuous drive, be encouraged, and have confidence.
Who inspired you? Everyone I worked with at The Daily Illini! The DI has talented, curious, and warm people with limitless motivation to explore new parts of the field, which really refreshed and influenced me to achieve anything I put my mind to. I also met my husband at the DI!
What are you most proud of? My entire career journey. I came a long way and feel empowered looking back at my decisions and accomplishments. I’m also proud of not staying in a traditional career track. The people I surrounded myself with in both a professional and friend capacity always influenced me to grow and do what I love. I found that the more I challenged and strived for all my desires I felt fulfilled. What I am proud of now is being in a role and environment that stimulates growth with each other but within your own skill set as well.
