Updated May 13, 2025
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.
- Daniella Braun
- Hanna Brazas-Mata
- Ju-I Chang
- Lily Cohen
- Talia Duffy
- Francesca Dumitrescu
- Tunga Jois
- Ethan Kasdan
- Lily Kelly
- Michael Leshock
- Katherine Oates
- Caroline Thies
- Mariah Trujillo
- Emily Wojcik
Highest Honors
Highest Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors in the top five percent of their graduating class.
- Daniella Braun
- Hanna Brazas-Mata
- Ju-I Chang
- Emily Chen
- Lily Cohen
- Talia Duffy
- Francesca Dumitrescu
- Tunga Jois
- Ethan Kasdan
- Lily Kelly
- Michael Leshock
- Katherine Oates
- Caroline Thies
- Mariah Trujillo
- Emily Wojcik
High Honors
High Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors in the top 10 percent of their graduating class.
- Jalynn Bugaj
- Jack Cook
- Jon Costello
- Dalila Divanovic
- Anna Fedczuk
- Adelina Garcia
- Madison Holcomb
- Grace He
- Margaret Knutte
- Maeve Mosbrook
- Stephanie Mosqueda
- Emilio Reyes
- Luke Routson
- Maddie Sneddon
Honors
Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors in the top 20 percent of their graduating class.
- Caden Bargowski
- Lucy Bridges
- Christina Calas
- Anna Chang
- Andrianna Ciszek
- Allison Garlin
- Anjana Gulapalyam
- Jiahua He
- Lillian Hyland
- Charlene Huang
- Qianzi Huang
- Emma Huget
- Emma Johnson
- Cassidy Koretz
- Jennifer Lee
- Elizabeth Licona
- Hannah Lonergan
- Nour Longi
- Ellen McGinnis
- Luke McKenna
- Rong Mu
- Ethan Oskroba
- Kruti Patel
- Pranav Penaganti
- Greta Prepejchal
- Diya Thomas
- Julian Trujillo
- Abigail Vidmar
- Alyssa Villegas
- Ellen Wagner
- Charlotte Watson
- Andrew Yang
- Nicole Zgrzebski
James Scholar
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.
- Caden Bargowski
- Jalynn Bugaj
- Ju-I Chang
- Natalie Cline
- Heather Conti
- Jack Cook
- Talia Duffy
- Francesca Dumitrescu
- Adelina Garcia
- Emma Huget
- Emma Johnson
- Tunga Jois
- Simran Karamchandani
- Ethan Kasdan
- Lily Kelly
- Brigid Kissane
- Faith Lee
- Nour Longi
- Isabel Mercado
- Kruti Patel
- Caroline Thies
- Diya Thomas
- Julian Trujillo
- Alyssa Villegas
- Evan Walker
Kappa Tau Alpha
This college honor society recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.
- Lily Cohen
- Jack Cook
- Talia Duffy
- Tunga Jois
- Ethan Kasdan
- Lily Kelly
- Michael Leshock
- Katherine Oates
- Maddie Sneddon
- Caroline Thies
- Mariah Trujillo
Senior 100 Honorary
This campus honor recognizes academics, leadership, service, and engagement at the University of Illinois.
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 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 and attend an Industry Immersion program with top industry professionals and organizations. In 2025, AAF launched the Most Promising Symposium and Alumni Engagement program at the event.
Anthony J. Petullo Endowment in Design and Advertising Fund
This fellowship, established by Anthony J. Petullo (BS ’61, Gies Business) in 2007, encourages and promotes continued scholarship related to the changing methods of reaching and delivering messages to consumers/society on every level.
- Alexandra Ehrhart
- Yan (Anna) Liu
- Zixuan Lu
Barton A. Cummings Academic Excellence Award
These are academic research awards given to master’s in advertising and Institute of Communications Research doctoral students who demonstrate great promise in research.
- Cherie Chick
- Kirby Cook
- Kundi (Claire) Dai
- Weiting Du
- Michelle Garcia
- Ruochong (Alice) Ji
- Muskan Khowaja
- Chao-Yan (Janice) Lin
- Yan (Anna) Liu
- Mackenzie Lyerla
- Zoe Randolph
- Ruiheng (Rachel) Sun
- Jiayi (Joy) Wang
- Shuang (Aurora) Wu
- Shiyue (Jennifer) Zhang
- Zixuan (Melodie) Zhao
Barton A. Cummings Graduate Assistantship / Richard and Audrey Christian Graduate Assistantship
The late Margaret K. Cummings provided funding for advertising graduate assistantships in honor of her late husband. Barton A. Cummings, the retired CEO of Compton Advertising, was a member of the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame and served as chair of the James Webb Young Board at the University of Illinois. One of the awards is named the Richard and Audrey Christian Graduate Assistantship.
- Cherie Chick
- Adam Goodreau
- Zoe Randolph
Betty Hinckle Dunn Memorial Fund in Journalism
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 experiential learning, funding for undergraduate and graduate journalism students, and an annual public lecture by a distinguished journalist.
- Maggie Knutte
- Faith Lee
- Piper Pascarella
Bob Reid Minority Student Recruitment Fund
Bob Reid began teaching journalism at Illinois in 1979 as a visiting lecturer, then joined the journalism faculty as a professor in 1980. He retired in fall 2003. The fund was established in December 2004 so his friends, former students, and colleagues could help perpetuate his passion for journalism teaching and scholarship. It provides general scholarship support for students enrolled in the Department of Journalism.
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.
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.
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.
- Karys Boeriu
- Anjana Gulapalyam
- Yash Jagtap
- Sofia Kanda
- Christopher LaPorte
- Rory McFadden
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.
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
- Ethan Kasdan
- Kris Modi
- Julia Rivera
Cardiss Collins Scholarship for Advertising Studies Fund
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.
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.
- Jacqueline Barba
- Brendan Gallian
- Stephanie Mosqueda
Charla Krupp Journalism Student Support Fund
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. In 2024, this fund expanded its scope to provide scholarship and experiential learning support of Media students. Internship and experiential learning support shall be in the journalism industry.
- Madison Holcomb
- Mary Piacente
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.
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.
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.
- Brianna Alvarado
- Eli Kennel
- Danielle Mitchell
- Sophia Negrete
- Rein Phone
- Nicolas Roacho
- Emma Shepherd
- Mary Sloan
College of Media Dean’s Honors Scholarship
These scholarships are awarded to incoming students based on their prior academic achievements and extracurricular involvement. They are funded by contributions from donors to the College of Media Annual Fund.
- Sonja Aghakhan
- Bria Baker
- Curtis Beasley
- Mariah Brooks
- Sophie Cain
- Junlin Chen
- Cesar Ortiz Duran
- Amber Graves
- Brooklynn Hubbard
- Alayna Irby
- Khadijat Ismaila
- Peyton Julius
- Emma Martin
- Samuel Mauch
- Ryan McClenning
- Giuliana Means
- Glyce Mitchell
- Alex Mrazek
- Samantha Munoz
- Michelle Park
- Kevin Paul
- Elijah Sain
- Claire-Michelle Sweet
- Aarav Walkay
- Max Wertz
- Sarah Xu
- Jasmine Yau
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.
- Elena Janeva
- Abigail Vidmar
College of 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.
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.
Cynthia Browne Placek Endowed Scholarship
The Cynthia Browne Placek Endowed Scholarship was established in November 2022 by Cynthia to benefit students who demonstrate financial need in the Department of Journalism at the University of Illinois.
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.
- Felicity Abbott
- Lauren Castaldo
- Nina Issel
- Mariana Quezada Marquez
- Jasmine Nichols
- Stephanie Orellana
- Jude Panlilio
- Riley Shankman
- Benjamin Somerville
Dana M. Ewell Memorial Fund
Established in 2003, this award honors Dana M. Ewell in name and legacy. Ms. Ewell was an instructor, lecturer, academic programs coordinator, and placement/internship coordinator in the Department of Journalism. Whether in the classroom teaching a course on editing or reporting or in her office providing information and guidance on internships or job placement, Ms. Ewell was always accessible to students. She became a mentor and friend to many. This award is presented to a junior, senior, or graduate student who is studying journalism.
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.
- Edgar Nava Garcia
- Evelyn York
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- Eli Mitzenmacher
- Jean-Luc Charles
- Said Nonoal
- Emily Ritchie
- Jakob Stutz
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Ju-I (Juliana) Chang
- Talia Duffy
- Lily Kelly
- Michael Leshock
Harold R. Bruno, Jr., Fund for Journalism
The Bruno Fund, created in 2011, provides unrestricted support for the College of Media. This year the income from the fund is being used to support internships. A 1950 graduate of the college, Bruno began his journalism career working for Chicago-area news services and papers. At Newsweek he served as foreign correspondent and political editor before joining ABC News in 1978 where he retired a political director.
- Patricia (Penny) Bradford
- Jonathan Mathew
- Mallory Miller
- Jahzara Norris
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.
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.
Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Scholars Graduate Fellowship
In honor of the late Ted Peterson, former Dean of the College of Communications and magazine journalism giant, this fellowship is awarded based upon academic merit and professional promise to graduate students enrolled in the Department of Journalism.
- Grant Chassy
- Molly Hughes
- Jennie Kearney
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.
- Yufan Du
- Trent Miles
- Jin Wang
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.
- Patricia (Penny) Bradford
- Ben Fader
- Ethan Oskroba
- Emilio Reyes
J. Christopher and Robin N. Kaler Scholarship
This scholarship was established by Jon “Chris” and Robin Kaler in July 2005 and is split between the College of Media and the Main University Library. It provides unrestricted support to the journalism broadcast sequence in the Department of Journalism, awarded to undergraduate journalism students. Robin is a double alumna of the College of Media, with a B.S. in Journalism in 1983 and a M.S. in Journalism in 1992, and currently serves the Associate Chancellor for Strategic Communications and Marketing for the University of Illinois.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
John Russell Heitman Fellowship
Mildred Yates Heitman (B.A., LAS General Studies, ’26) of Rantoul, Illinois created this fund in 1992 in honor of her husband, John Russell Heitman, who taught journalism at the University of Illinois in the 1930s. Mr. Heitman owned the Lake Forester newspaper and Heitman Printing Plant in Lake Forest. The fund supports graduate fellowships and assistantships in journalism.
- Rachel Johnson
- Kaitlyn Klepec
Jonathan Laxamana Award in Student Filmmaking
Established in 2024 by Joseph Laxamana plus friends and family, this award is given in honor of his younger brother, Jonathan Laxamana (BS ’92, English, LAS) who was passionate about film and film festivals. The recipient of this award is a student of any major who demonstrates outstanding foregrounding representation in front of and behind the camera, as well as their skills as a filmmaker.
- Ziyue (Bruce) Zhang, history major, for his film Some Year at the Rooster
Jonathan Laxamana Endowment Fund
Established in 2024 by Joseph Laxamana plus friends and family as the first College of Media endowed scholarship in the Department of Media and Cinema Studies, this scholarship is given in honor of Joseph’s younger brother, Jonathan Laxamana (BS ’92, English, LAS) who was passionate about film and film festivals. The recipient of this award is a Media and Cinema Studies student studying film production or film studies, and can be used for scholarships, experiential learning, and internship support.
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.
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.
Jvanne J. Hoelscher Memorial Fund
Jvanne J. (Henry) Hoelscher was born in Palestine, Illinois. She grew up in Southeastern Illinois and graduated from Robinson High School. She was her high school valedictorian. Then she continued her education at the University of Illinois majoring in journalism, completing her degree in 1951. While there, she became one of the editors of The Daily Illini and was selected for the Mortar Board Honorary Society. Jvanne continued to use her freelance writing skills to benefit her church and community groups as she and her family frequently moved around the county. The Jvanne J. Hoelscher Memorial Fund is awarded to an undergraduate journalism student with financial need and academic merit and can be used for internships, scholarships, and experiential learning.
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.
- Kennedy Caldwell
- Megan Krok
- Mallory Miller
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.
- Alfonso Castillo
- Christopher Edison
- Maureen Machado
- Diego Miranda
- Anthony Moreno
- Emelly Soto
- Emmanuel Tinajero
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.
- Jacqueline Barba
- Dalila Divanovic
- Stephanie Mosqueda
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.
- Jennifer Cintron
- Kirby Cook
- Weiting Du
- William Helmke
- Seo Jeong Heo
- Jorge Rojas Alvarez
- Mengqing (Maggie) Zhang
- Nansong Zhou
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 undergraduate students judged to have reported and written the best student feature articles during the academic year.
- First prize: Madison Holcomb, “Millions of livestock die each year while being transported. Those cases are rarely investigated by the USDA.”
- Second prize: Faith Lee, “A Life Divided: Reflections of Jobie Taylor’s Journey to Prison.”
- Third prize: Layli Nazarova, “Accessibility blocked: U of I senior dropped disability studies minor over inaccessible bathrooms.”
Marilyn Miller Kaytor Fellowship
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 fellowships for graduate students enrolled in the Department of Journalism.
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.
- Felicity Abbott
- Chloe Barbarise
- Amelia Benson
- Kathryn Dalton
- Dennis Dearing
- Tess Fecarotta
- Piotr Fedczuk
- Isabelle Gil
- Faith Lee
- Hannah Lonergan
- Nour Longi
- Patrick Mahoney
- Haley Maser
- Giuliana Means
- Mallory Miller
- Cooper O’Kelly
- Addison Petrinos
- Humza Qazi
- Katherine Ratke
- Sam Rink
- Luliana Rodriguez
Mark L. Brandt Public Engagement Fellows Program Fund
This fund was established in December 2021 in memory of Mark L. Brandt (BS ’86, GIES, finance) to benefit in particular first-generation College of Media students and those from underrepresented populations, to gain skills and experiences in public engagement activties through the College of Media to make a positive impact in their professional and personal lives.
- Mariah Brooks
- Amogh Donthi
- Jakob Stutz
- Faith Lee
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.
- Rhea Moozhayil – Best Single Ad
- Brigid Kissane and Luke Routson – Best Campaign
- Greta Prepejchal – Best Portfolio
Nancy Ronald and Ronald L. Hartshorn Internship Fund
Nancy Ronald (BS ’70, journalism) and Ron Hartshorn (BS ’69, ACES) established this endowment in 2013 to support students pursuing internships in media. Preference is given to students with an interest in broadcast journalism.
- Felicity Abbott
- Katie Dalton
- Mazie Gierat
- Ashley Howerter
- Piper Pascarella
Neil and Lynn Gissler Experiential Learning Fund
This experiential learning fund, created in 2023 by D. Neil Gissler (BA ’87, Economics) and Lynn A. Gissler (BA ’86, Communication), supports College of Media undergraduate students with experiential learning and industry immersion opportunities. Preference is given to students majoring in Advertising.
- Lauren Barjami
- Emily Campos
- Eli Kennel
- Mattie Kennel
- Brigid Kissane
- Ava Kolodziej
- Sasha Kumar
- Alessandra Lugo
- Odinakachukwu (Odi) Ogbuefi
- Darren Wojdyla
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.
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.
- Michael Leshock
- Eduardo Quintana
Paula L. Gottschalk Scholarship
The estate of Paula Gottschalk (BS ’66, advertising) provides fellowships for advertising students and scholarships for undergraduate students in journalism.
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.
Raymond Clamage Prize in Journalism
In 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Clamage established a fund with the University of Illinois in memory of their son, Raymond, who served on The Daily Illini staff from 1942 to 1943 and was killed in action in World War II. This award is presented to the member of The Daily Illini staff not holding a senior position who has contributed the most to the progress and quality of the newspaper during the year.
Richard Tuttle and Lois Marie Orr Endowment 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.
- Grace Bernstein
- Nathan Gonzalez
- Annisyn Krebs-Carr
- Jonathan Mathew
- Katherine Ratke
- Emilio Reyes
- Samuel Yohnka
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.
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.
Roger Ebert Fellows in Media Criticism
In recognition of Roger Ebert’s (BS ’64, journalism) career in journalism, the Roger Ebert Fellows program was established in 2015 to provide learning experiences that focus on critical thinking and interpretative journalism. Professor Denise Bielby (BS ’71, MA ’72, ACES; PhD ’75, University of Wisconsin, Madison), Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Emerita at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who specializes in culture, gender, work and social psychology, was instrumental in providing the generous support of the Roger Ebert Center, Roger Ebert Program for Film Studies, and Roger Ebert Fellows in Media Criticism so that these programs can continue benefiting College of Media faculty, staff, and students well into the future. As a key component of the Roger Ebert Fellows in Media Criticism, 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.
- Aaron Anastos
- Kennedy Caldwell
- Diamond Steward-Hutton
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 in December 1994 by Dr. and Mrs. Dunn to honor his legacy.
Suzanne Bates and Drew Yanno Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund
This scholarship fund, created in 2021 by Suzanne Bates (BS ’77, journalism) and her husband Drew Yanno, supports College of Media undergraduate students with scholarships, internships, and/or other experiential learning opportunities. Preference is given to journalism students with financial need and academic merit.
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.
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.
