Unit 20 | College of Media

Excerpts from ‘Bridging Divides’ series: Engaging with People, Perspectives, and Policies When You Don’t Agree: Lessons from Journalism

November 13, 2024

As part of the College of Media’s three-part webinar series this fall, “Bridging Divides: Conversations on Media and Disagreement,” faculty from the Departments of Advertising, Journalism, and Media & Cinema Studies led Q&As to explore how productive discussions occur across lines of disagreement and difference.

Below, read excerpts from “Engaging with People, Perspectives, and Policies When You Don’t Agree: Lessons from Journalism.” Note: Answers have been condensed for length and clarity.

Panelists:

Leon Dash, Professor and Swanlund Chair, Department of Journalism; 1995 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Explanatory Reporting
Colleen King, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism; Director of the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media; former Executive Producer for MSNBC’s The 11^th Hour with Brian Williams

King: How do you have all your life experiences and not put them in a story?

Dash: You get used to keeping your personal opinion, your personal reactions out of stories. It’s discipline that becomes a part of you and working as a reporter. And, you know, an editor is not going to let your opinion go past him or her. They’re going to stop you and say, ‘Oh, no, no, you’re giving me your opinion here.’

King: News judgment really cannot be totally objective. So how do journalists approach the selection of stories at times of great polarization?

Dash: Probably from their personal interests. News objectivity is a goal, but as I said, it is very difficult to achieve pure objectivity. But you know when you’re being unfair. And so that was, for me, my measure. Fairness or unfairness. [As for] what stories to select to cover, they almost present themselves.

King: How can the press go about rebuilding trust with audience members, especially younger audiences who maybe aren’t as familiar with traditional news media?

Dash: That’s a good question because [I’m] dealing with a freshman class this semester and I’ve been surprised when they tell me they get most of the information from TikTok.

And I really don’t have an answer to that question. I talk to them and I give them a current events quiz. Some of them do quite well on it. The ones that do well on the current events are reading traditional news outlets. Here the students have access as part of their student fees to The New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal. And some of them do take advantage of that and read those papers regularly, not daily, and so they’re well up to the mark on current events.

Others follow traditional social media that they have always followed and they’re not really up on current events. So, I really don’t have an answer for that. I would like to see an answer for that. Maybe this is a part of an evolution that we have to go through as a society.

King: What are some of your big takeaways or advice for students in public affairs reporting?

Dash: It’s important to remain calm and not be defensive or offensive. I’m always telling them you have to have a bit of aggression in terms of advocating for the public, the politicians, and with the people who are elected officials. You must always be polite, and professional, but ask the question that needs to be asked.

If it’s a matter of embezzling money, you ask about it. If you know the amount of money that was embezzled, you cite that in your question and it’s public. So always be prepared to do that, no matter what the reaction of the official or the politician is to your question.

Read excerpts from the other “Bridging Divides” Q&As:

What Does it Mean to Be an Informed Critic?

Reaching Across the Aisle: Advertising and Messaging in an Age of Polarization

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Illinois chapter of National Association of Black Journalists promotes unity among Black Media students

November 7, 2024 | Kelly Youngblood

At its first event of the 2024-25 school year, the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists hosted “Black on Black Commentary,” where students discussed popular topics involving the Black community in the media, such as election coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris and the failure of cosmetic brands to include Black customers.

It’s an event NABJ, a registered student organization, has held in the past and one that inspires back-and-forth conversations around current events.

“We talk about different topics on social media that kind of go viral and we discuss the implications that they have on the African American community,” said Faith Lee, president of the NABJ Illinois chapter and senior in journalism.

The event, which is one of many the NABJ holds on campus throughout the year, is designed to help meet the mission of the local chapter—to promote unity among Black Media students across the University of Illinois.

“Sometimes it can be hard to meet people in your classes that look like you and that feeling can definitely be isolating,” Lee said. “I know I’ve felt it before, just being in class and on campus, sometimes just in general, being the only person of color.”

That’s why Lee says organizations like NABJ are so important. They not only bring Black students together, but also help to provide professional development and networking opportunities.

“I’ve learned that while it’s important to network upwards, it’s also important to network across with your peers because they’re going to be the ones who are sitting in those rooms with you in the future,” Lee said. “You never know where we all might end up, so it’s important to make connections now so that in the future we can have each other in mind for jobs.”

We hope to be there to give advice on something as small as what class to take, to recommending internships to each other, to just being that community that I feel like we need.

Faith Lee

NABJ President

Recently, the Illinois chapter hosted Leona Towner, author of 23 and on TV, who spoke about the day-to-day life of a multimedia journalist. She shared vital information on overcoming barriers, standing out in the industry, and the importance of telling compelling yet authentic stories.

They also held a media mixer where all College of Media students were invited to get together and play games, such as a creative advertising competition, Uno, Jenga, and speed networking.

Lee said the events are specifically designed for students, intended to provide an environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves, sharing their passions, and learning from each other.

“We hope to be there to give advice on something as small as what class to take, to recommending internships to each other, to just being that community that I feel like we need,” she said.

The National Association of Black Journalists was founded nearly 50 years ago to advocate for Black journalists and media professionals in the U.S. and worldwide. Leon Dash, Pulitzer Prize winner and Swanlund Chair Professor of Journalism at the College of Media, was one of 44 Black journalists who founded the organization in 1975.

Today, NABJ’s national membership is more than 4,000 strong and includes emerging journalists, professional journalists, student journalists, journalism educators, and media professionals of all kinds.

For Lee, who is a Mark L. Brandt Public Engagement Fellow with the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media, business manager of the Illio yearbook, a College of Media communications intern, and educational chair of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc., serving as president of the Illinois chapter of the NABJ has provided her an opportunity to cultivate her leadership style.

“One of my personal goals this year was not just to be president for the sake of being president, but also to help those who are coming up behind me to find their footing in the College of Media and be successful, and not feel alone, and find that community that they might be seeking out,” Lee said.

For more information about the Illinois chapter of NABJ or upcoming events, email uofinabj@gmail.com or check out their Instagram account, @nabjuofi.

NABJ meeting — *Photos provided by Faith Lee, pictured at center in the “Illinois” T-shirt.*

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NBC News’ chief political analyst Chuck Todd to visit the University of Illinois for a conversation on presidential election results

November 4, 2024

Chuck Todd, NBC News’ chief political analyst and former moderator of the network’s flagship Sunday public affairs program Meet the Press, will be on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus for a conversation about the presidential election results on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 5-6 p.m.

Todd will discuss what we can learn about voters and the country following the election results, what kind of messaging we can expect in the president’s first 100 days, the importance of local news, as well as some of his career highlights.

This event is free and open to the public and is presented by the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media at the University of Illinois College of Media.

Attendees may join the event in the Gregory Hall auditorium (Room 112), 810 S. Wright, Urbana, or register to join via Zoom. The conversation will be led by Colleen King, director of the Frank Center and clinical assistant professor of journalism.

“There is no one better qualified to help us understand the state of American politics than Chuck Todd,” King said. “For three decades, he has had a front-row seat to American politics and held the country’s top lawmakers accountable week after week. The Frank Center is honored to welcome him to Illinois at such a critical time.”

Todd, a three-time Emmy Award-winner for his contributions to NBC News’ election night and breaking news coverage, was moderator of Meet the Press from 2014 through 2023. Building on the success of MTP Daily, which Todd anchored for eight seasons on MSNBC, Todd launched Meet the Press NOW in 2022—a daily show on the streaming platform NBC News NOW—that brings the insight and analysis made famous by the Sunday show to a wider audience than ever before. Todd also hosts the seasonal deep-dive show Meet the Press Reports and the weekly podcast Chuck ToddCast.

For more information, please contact Colleen King at cck@illinois.edu.

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Journalism alumna Kate McQueen chosen for Henry Fuhrmann Mentor Award

Kate McQueen (BA ’02, LAS; MS ’17, journalism) has been named the winner of the 2024 Henry Fuhrmann Mentor Award by ACES: The Society for Editing and the Asian American Journalists Association-Los Angeles.

McQueen, editorial director of the Pollen Initiative, was honored for her work with new and aspiring journalists and nonfiction writers who are incarcerated.

McQueen, who mentored writers at San Quentin State Prison who were working to tell their stories from behind bars, was awarded a $1,000 prize.

“No coincidence, my progress as a published writer and, far more importantly, as a better person blossomed since I had the good fortune to cross paths with Kate … I am set to begin a University of California, Berkeley two-year journalism fellowship this fall, which was only possible due to Kate’s coordination and encouragement,” said Joe Garcia, one of Quinn’s proteges.

Before joining the Pollen Initiative, which provides media and leadership training for incarcerated people, McQueen was an editorial adviser for Wall City, San Quentin’s prisoner-run quarterly magazine, and worked with the Prison Journalism Project.

“When you give incarcerated writers encouragement to try hard and excel at the journalistic practice, it’s amazing what they accomplish, from starting prison media centers to bylines in The New Yorker,” said McQueen. “Thank you, ACES/AAJA, for recognizing that fostering journalists in prison is important. I’m deeply honored that you chose to highlight my work as a mentor inside the walls.”

McQueen is a writer and lecturer at University of California, Santa Cruz, specializing in literary journalism, with a focus on narratives of crime and justice.

In its second year, the Fuhrmann Mentor Award is given jointly by ACES and AAJA-LA in honor of their late colleague to a journalism mentor who has consistently guided and supported others.

Journalism alum Sal Nudo publishes new guidebook on Champaign-Urbana

Sal Nudo (MS ’16, journalism) has published a guidebook, Champaign-Urbana Greater than a Tourist, which contains advice on places to eat and visit in C-U and information about the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The book is part of CZYK Publishing’s Greater than a Tourist series.

The 50 categories in the guidebook include the twin cities’ annual events and many parks and restaurants, interesting C-U facts about the town’s technological innovations, famous past residents, and metro-agricultural landscape. Art, cultural heritage, family activities, and shopping options are among the guidebook’s many other topics.

“From seeking books on the third-floor nooks and crannies of Jane Addams Book Shop to strolling among the sunflowers in the wide-open field of Clearview Farm, writing the C-U version of Greater Than a Tourist brought me closer to my town and gave me a renewed appreciation of our local businesses and residents,” Nudo writes.

Nudo is a writer and communications professional who has worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for nearly 20 years. He has published multiple books that are available on Amazon, including Learning Journalism Where Writers Rise: Four Enlightening Years in Graduate School at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Far From Mars.

Have newspaper political endorsements outlived their purpose?

November 1, 2024 | Lois Yoksoulian, University of Illinois News Bureau

Melita Garza, associate professor and Tom and June Netzel Sleeman Scholar in Business Journalism, is a journalism historian who studies news as an agent of democracy. University of Illinois News Bureau editor Lois Yoksoulian discussed the history and future of presidential endorsements with Garza in light of recent nonendorsement decisions within some news organizations.

Why do some newspapers endorse presidential candidates?

In the early days of the republic, newspapers were partisan tools, often funded by politicians. In the early 1800s, it was fairly common to see publishers and editors as leaders of local political parties. Local and national party tickets were printed in newspapers, and the role of editors and publishers in state conventions was announced in the paper, too.

Such open political involvement today would be seen as unethical and would clearly compromise the news product. As the 19th century progressed, the press became free of party control. By the early 20th century, traditional newspapers pursued the widest audiences possible, emphasizing news that would appeal across the political spectrum.

Advertising subsidized the news pages—the larger the circulation, the more newspapers could charge advertisers. Journalists bolstered their credibility and high standards through the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

The divide between the owner, the publisher and the newsroom became sacrosanct, so much so that when Chicago’s Tribune Tower was completed in 1925, only the two center elevators in the four-elevator bank serving the Nathan Hale lobby of the newspaper stopped on the 4th and 5th floors—the floors where the editorial department was housed. It wasn’t until decades later that those elevators finally began serving all 24 floors, including the Chicago Tribune’s advertising and circulation departments.

At a completely independent newspaper, even the editorial board would have its say without interference from the owner. More often, the publisher controls the editorial board, including having a final say on political endorsements. Ultimately, however, the owner reserves the right to call the shots. After all, it is their money that backs the newspaper.

Not all newspapers endorsed presidential candidates in the past, but those that did typically reflected the publisher’s public policy preferences for the country and the world. Embedded in this point of view are the publisher’s values and ideals. While an editorial board typically has crafted the political endorsements, the final word has always been the publisher’s prerogative. The New York Times, the nation’s newspaper of record, first endorsed a presidential candidate in 1860 when it supported Abraham Lincoln. It has endorsed presidential candidates every four years since, including this year.

Why isn’t a newspaper’s endorsement of a candidate seen as a conflict of interest?

Some newspaper readers historically have been well aware of the sharp divide between news and opinion. In an ideal world, opinion and editorial pages would be clearly labeled and set apart, either on the back pages of the main section or, in larger newspapers, in a stand-alone Sunday section. Some news and editorial departments function like church and state, rigidly separated. For instance, at The Wall Street Journal, one side doesn’t talk to the other. But not all newspapers are church and state. Some allow opinion to creep into the news columns by selecting stories they print or by allowing political opinion to surface.

In the digital era, the distinction between opinion and news has become even more blurred, largely because digital articles tend to come across smartphones, tablets and computers independent of the news “pages.” Content flashes across the screen, and to a scrolling news consumer, it’s not always obvious whether it’s presented as fact or opinion. Even readers who understand this may be skeptical that individual journalists can remain independent of their bosses’ ideas.

What has changed in the newspaper business and political climate that has led papers like The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times to ditch their endorsements?

The Age of the Internet, the creation of Craigslist, and the concomitant migration of advertisements online broke the newspaper revenue model. While there have always been multimillionaire newspaper owners, like William Randolph Hearst who owned the biggest pile of newspapers in the world in the 1930s, today’s newspaper-owning moguls often have other businesses, creating the potential for additional conflicts.

That said, what’s changed the most is neither the newspaper business nor “the political climate.” The big change is the casual acceptance and even applause for an ex-president and current presidential candidate who promises retribution against those who exercise the right of the free press to oppose his policies.

What is the value of candidate endorsements?

Some have said that newspapers as a whole have outlived their purpose. Candidate endorsements offer readers insight into the newspaper’s thinking about the direction and needs of the country and what should be expected from the leader of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy. Readers have always been free to take it or leave it. There is little empirical evidence that these presidential endorsements swayed readers to vote one way or another.

Will subscription cancellations in the wake of non-endorsements impact the bottom line for papers like The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times?

Understandably, neither the business nor newsroom sides benefit when circulation drops. A lower number of subscribers still leads to lost advertising revenue. Meanwhile, journalists find a smaller audience for their work, lessening its reach and impact. Most devastatingly, it holds the journalists responsible for the publisher’s decision and punishes them for it. It also harms news consumers, leaving them less informed.

You have to ask, however, whether those 250,000 or so people who canceled their Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post subscription also canceled their Bezos-owned Amazon Prime, Amazon Music and Amazon Cloud accounts—I think not. The only people hurt by the cancellation were the journalists, who probably will face another round of layoffs.

Editor’s note:

To reach Melita Garza, email melitamg@illinois.edu.

View original press release.

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Journalism alum Mark Grochocinski publishes book on Jack the Ripper

Grochocinski book "Out of the Corner of the Eye"

Mark S. Grochocinski (BS ’77, journalism) has published his first book: Out of the Corner of the Eye: Averted Visions of Jack the Ripper.

Grochocinski offers an oblique, subtle, and nuanced view of Jack the Ripper and his crimes via a series of vignettes—its focus is on his time in place, not his place in time.

Grochocinski, who retired from practicing law in 2020, lives in Palos Hills, Illinois.

There are lessons to learn from the news ghosts of journalism’s past

October 27, 2024 | Chicago Tribune

As a female journalist of color with 22 years in the industry and now a professor of journalism, I believe that obliviousness to journalism’s trailblazers—both their errors and biases and their accomplishments and innovations—leaves the media professional in a state of historical amnesia.

Melita Garza, Associate Professor and Tom and June Netzel Sleeman Scholar in Business Journalism

Melita Garza, associate professor and Tom and June Netzel Sleeman Scholar in Business Journalism, wrote an op-ed piece for the Chicago Tribune Opinion titled, “There are lessons to learn from the news ghosts of journalism’s past.”

In the article—inspired by the Editors’ Hall of Fame in Gregory Hall—Garza urges today’s journalists to “revere the past, learn from mistakes, and work to build legacies of truth.”

Read full article

Illinois Public Media programs and staff garner awards

October 10, 2024

Illinois Public Media’s Prairie Fire nominated for seven Emmys

UPDATE 10/29/2024:

WILL-TV’s Prairie Fire won four Mid-America Emmy Awards, including Best Magazine Program, for its first season. The show also won in the following categories:

Arts/Entertainment, Short Form: “Preston Jackson.” A profile of renowned artist and musician Preston Jackson from Peoria, whose works document the Black experience.
Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, Short Form: “Operation Wild Horse.” A visit to Operation Wild Horse, a nonprofit organization that partners wild mustangs and burros with U.S. military veterans.
Human Interest, Short Form: “Susannah Scaroni.” The remarkable journey of Paralympian Susannah Scaroni—from her days growing up to adapting to life in a wheelchair to the winner’s circle of the 2023 Boston Marathon.

* * *

Prairie Fire, a WILL-TV program featuring cinematic documentaries, profiles, and performances from downstate Illinois, has been nominated for seven Mid-America regional Emmy awards, including Best Magazine Program, in the first season of its reboot. The show, which first debuted in 1992 and ran until 2009, was rebooted last year by Illinois Public Media.

Other nominations Prairie Fire received from the Mid-America chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences include Arts/Entertainment-Short Form; Informational/Instruction- Short Form; Entertainment – Short or Long Form; Diversity/Equity/Inclusion – Short Form; Human Interest – Short Form; and Musical Composition/Arrangement for its theme song.

The winners will be announced on October 26 at a ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri.

The second season of Prairie Fire returned September 19 and airs the third Thursday of every month. It can be watched on WILL-TV, or on demand on YouTube or with the PBS App.

IPM staff Jill Clements and Reginald Hardwick honored with local NAACP awards

Illinois Soul station manager Jill Clements and IPM news and public affairs director Reginald Hardwick were honored with local NAACP awards for their efforts to launch Illinois Soul 101.1 FM, a new radio station from IPM amplifying Black voices.

The two were among six community members that were recognized at the NAACP’s Champaign County branch’s annual Freedom Fund celebration, held September 28.

Clements was honored with the Media Trailblazer Award for leading the development of the groundbreaking venture of Illinois Soul. The station was lauded for amplifying Black voices and culture, along with R&B music throughout central Illinois and online, with the power of public media.

Hardwick, Illinois Public Media’s director of news and public affairs, was honored with the Media Expansion Award.

He was also a driving force behind the launch of Illinois Soul, which Hardwick says is “reaching and representing Black communities over the air in Champaign County in a way that was long overdue.” He also manages The 21^st Show, a live weekday public radio talk show that brings news, culture, and stories that matter to Illinois.

Hardwick has won seven regional Emmy awards, and says he is intent on building a news team that is “smart, diverse, and empathetic.”

IPM receives two INBA awards

The Illinois News Broadcasters Association has honored two Illinois Public Media programs with 2024 Crystal Mic Awards. The awards were presented September 21 during the organization’s fall convention in East Peoria.

An episode of Dialogue, a new community affairs program airing on Illinois Soul and hosted by Kennedy Vincent, was honored with second place in Podcasting (small market radio). The episode focused on the Congolese community in Champaign-Urbana.

“There are thousands of people in our region who have immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said Reginald Hardwick, IPM news and public affairs director. “We don’t often know about them because they’re quietly operating businesses, churches, and enriching schools in Champaign-Urbana. And they speak French. Kennedy Vincent took time to produce a quality podcast that explored what brought them to the U.S., how their lives have changed in central Illinois, and she was in the kitchen for preparation of a Congolese meal. This is exactly why we created the Dialogue show.”

Listen to the episode called “A Dialogue with Congolese Community of Champaign County.”

The INBA award for Investigative Reporting (small market radio) was awarded to a piece for IPM News by former intern Farrah Anderson (BS ’24, journalism) about inconsistencies in following protocol during domestic violence cases by the Champaign Police. She was a senior at the University of Illinois College of Media when she produced the story in a partnership with the Invisible Institute. The story also was recognized with a regional award from the Society of Professional Journalists and Collaborative Effort from the Public Media Journalists Association. Anderson is now a full-time reporter at WFYI in Indianapolis.

Listen to or read the piece called “Champaign Police investigate ‘agency culture’ of not following domestic violence reporting laws.”

Illinois Public Media is a not-for-profit public media service of the College of Media at the University of Illinois.

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2024-2025 student award and scholarship recipients

October 3, 2024

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.

Courtney Dillon

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.

Anna Chang
Rachel Ellis

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.

Nathan Gonzalez

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.

Sijie (Jenny) Lin

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.

Isabella Martin

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.

Felicity Abbott

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.

Kayla Robinson

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.

Benjamin Somerville

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

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.

Maria Emilia Mancero

Emily Wojcik

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.

Prayse Odomes

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.

Katie Ratke

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.

Nicholas Barbera

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.

Aaron Alexander

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.

Bo Ravanh

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.

Aaron Anastos

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.

Hannah Lonergan

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.

Adelyn Mui

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.

Brendan Gallian

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.

Emily Chen

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 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.

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.

Jonathan Mathew

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.

Amitauja Basu

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.

Piotr Fedczuk

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.

Humza Qazi

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.

David Lyle

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.

Emily Huffman

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.

Jasmine Nichols

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.

Hannah Lonergan

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.

Valerie Oviedo

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.

Rheanna Lewis

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.

Irini Mihas

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.

Megan Harding
Megan Krok

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.

Jennifer Lee

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.

Benjamin Shlau

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.

Jasmine Nichols

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.

Felicity Abbott

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.

Nathan Gonzalez

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.

Nazala Salauddin

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.

Emily Huffman

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.

Maria Emilia Mancero

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.

Diamond Steward-Hutton

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.

Chloe Barbarise

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.

Eunsung Koh

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.

Stephanie Mosqueda

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.

Shiyue (Jennifer) Zhang

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.

Nathan Gonzalez

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.

Hailey Kotowski

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.

Andrew Burkey