These are the units for news, profiles, and roles (not bios.)
June 2, 2023
In Spring 2023, students in ADV 498: The Sandage Project worked on an advertising campaign for the nonprofit organization C-U at Home, which helps people who are experiencing homelessness by providing a safe environment and vital resources.
Ayah Aldadah, a senior in advertising and a media planner on the team, described their campaign as part of a College of Media video series where students discuss their roles in campus and community engagement projects.
May 18, 2023 | Kelly Youngblood
When it comes to career accomplishments, Jim Schlueter (BS ’80, journalism) could name a few, but none are quite as important to him as his ability to build up others.
It’s an honorable trait Schlueter has carried with him throughout his life—as an undergraduate student at Illinois, during his 33-year career in corporate communications, and more recently, as a very generous and passionate alum.
“If I think about accomplishments, really, it’s about helping people develop and grow and watching what they do,” Schlueter said.
Thanks to Schlueter’s contributions to the college, as well as his notable career achievements, the college’s leadership team agreed no one was more deserving of the 2023 College of Media Distinguished Alumni Award.
“Jim Schlueter has made many investments in the College of Media to benefit students now and in the future,” said Dean Tracy Sulkin. “We are so grateful for his engagement and for his desire to help make Illinois the number one destination for those who want to be part of the dynamic field of media.”
Schlueter is passionate about ensuring students stay ahead with new innovations and changing trends. In 2019, he and his wife, Amy, gave a generous gift to launch the Media Innovation Fund, which supports a wide range of activities that celebrate faculty excellence, faculty and student research, technology advancements, and cutting-edge pedagogy.
Schlueter said he felt humbled and honored when he learned of his nomination.
“I don’t do what I do to get awards, but to be recognized is a very, very special feeling because of [how I] feel about the University and the College of Media, the students, and the folks who have come before me and after me,” he said.
Schlueter, who grew up in rural Edwardsville, Illinois, and had always loved writing and sports, came to Illinois with a plan to study journalism. He joined the staff at The Daily Illini his sophomore year, covering women’s rugby, women’s cross-country, and men’s track. He became an executive reporter in sports his senior year covering football and basketball, and worked as a local stringer for the Associated Press.
“As much as I was looking forward to [attending the University of Illinois] … it was even better than I thought,” he said. “I met all my best friends there, I got to do experiences and things I couldn’t believe I was able to do, and I really stretched and learned a lot from my fellow students.”
After graduation, Schlueter worked as a reporter at a few newspapers, mostly covering the sports beat, and eventually earned his MBA in marketing from SIU-Edwardsville. In 1985, he went to work for an employee newspaper at McDonnell Douglas, an aerospace manufacturing corporation and defense contractor that eventually merged with Boeing in the late ’90s.
Schlueter said his career offered him a variety of opportunities that allowed him to support different fields within the aircraft industry including international communications, military products, and commercial airplanes. He spent the last six years of his career in Boeing’s corporate office in Chicago as the director of technology communications, finally retiring in 2018.
“I got to do a lot of things at an amazing company, so many different things that I can’t believe, from military programs and products to the space programs. I even worked a few shuttle launches, which is incredible,” he said.
Schlueter gives credit to his experience at Illinois, learning from some of the best professors alongside some of the brightest students, as well as his time at The Daily Illini for helping to shape his future career endeavors. He expressed gratitude for the journalism skills he gained that contributed to his success as a corporate communicator.
“When you’re a communications person at a company like Boeing, it behooves you to be able to write like a journalist writes and edit and dive into complicated questions and issues that really get to the heart of the matter,” he said.
Schlueter currently resides in Iowa with his wife, and they also have an apartment in Champaign. As lifelong season ticket holders, they come back to campus often for football and basketball games, and to visit the college for alumni commitments and events. Schlueter has served on the College of Media Alumni Leadership Council for more than a decade, sharing his professional insights and resources with faculty, staff, and students.
“It’s always been part and parcel of me, I guess, to stay connected and involved,” Schlueter said. “That feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself, and that you belong amongst it, is a big deal to me.”
In addition to kickstarting the Media Innovation Fund, a $50,000 donation from the Schlueters helped build the Media Technology Center, which offers a variety of technology and resources that students can check out or access online. The center opened in Fall 2022.
The couple also created the Schlueter Family Endowed Fund for Internships in Journalism to support students seeking real-world experience. Schlueter hopes their contributions will make a difference for Media students by enriching their education and preparing them to become future leaders in their field.
“I want Illinois to be on the forefront of the people who are coming up with the new ideas, the folks who are going to figure out how to do journalism for this century,” he said. “It’s going to be the students. They’re going to be the ones who figure it out.”
May 18, 2023 | Kelly Youngblood
When Emma Miller (BS ’08, media studies) graduated from the University of Illinois she wasn’t sure where her degree would take her.
Now, 15 years later as a Hollywood executive taking on a new leadership role at Netflix, Miller can say she’s exactly where she wants to be.
After eight years as the senior vice president of scripted development and programming at AMC Networks, Miller recently joined Netflix as director of overall deals in the series division.
Miller’s early career accomplishments, along with her continued engagement with the College of Media including serving on the Alumni Leadership Council, have garnered her the honor of being named the 2023 College of Media Emerging Leader Award winner. She is the first media studies graduate and the third recipient of the annual award.
“The College of Media is proud of Emma Miller’s career achievements and we’re thankful for her eagerness to be a resource for students,” said Dean Tracy Sulkin. “Emma has shared advice on how to navigate the film and TV industry that has been helpful and inspiring to students who are interested in making a career in Hollywood.”
Miller, who was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “35 Rising Executives 35 and Under” in 2018, said she was overwhelmed and excited when she received the news that she had won.
“I have a such a love for Illinois so it’s a real honor to be recognized by a place that I care a lot about,” Miller said.
Throughout her career, Miller has helped develop dozens of hit television series including The Walking Dead universe while at AMC, and The Americans on FX while a junior executive at Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Television. More recently, she worked on an AMC project with George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford called Dark Winds, a crime series with a majority Native American cast and crew.
But the Chicago-raised Midwesterner admits when she first set out for Hollywood after college, her path wasn’t very clear.
Miller considered going to law school to pursue a career as an entertainment lawyer but decided to find a job first.
After a lot of persistent if not frenzied effort on her part, Miller said she lucked out and landed her first job as a literary assistant at the talent agency William Morris.
“I just talked to everyone and applied to everything, and I got really lucky through that method, that really chaotic method,” Miller said. “In terms of getting into the industry, my advice is to talk to everyone that you possibly know that could help. Be shameless [about it] and ask for help. That’s how I did it.”
After gaining a couple years of experience as a literary assistant, Miller discovered the concept of development—which she said is similar to being a book editor who supports writers and gives feedback—and realized “there was a place for me here.”
“That’s when everything became way less chaotic and way more focused,” she said.
She has participated in two Media Career Night panels for students, one in 2020 and one in 2022, where she shared her experience and advice. (Recordings of the panels are archived online.) For Miller, it’s important to help students who were once like her and just starting out on their journey to working in Hollywood.
“I want to help Illinois have more of a presence within the industry and I want to help be a resource for [graduates who] come out here,” she said.
Miller originally came to the University of Illinois with plans to study English, but she became intrigued with the idea of working in the entertainment industry after taking a Women in Film course her freshman year. She signed up for more film classes and took advantage of a summer opportunity to work as a set production assistant on a Cartoon Network series produced by her uncle, which ultimately inspired her to switch majors.
“It was the exposure to the industry, and the realization that at Illinois there was a major I could do, that kind of cut me for a potential job in the industry,” Miller said.
She’s incredibly happy where she ended up.
“My life looks like what I thought I wanted, which was just exposure to a lot of interesting things and a sense that I don’t know what the next five years will bring [professionally],” she said. “I like the idea that in theory I don’t know what I’m going to be working on in five years, I don’t know what relationships I’ll have, I don’t know what new experiences I’ll have. And that to me is what I always wanted.”
College of Media alum Kevin Finke (BS ’92, advertising) was the keynote speaker on May 7 at the Senior 100 Honorary ceremony, which recognizes graduating seniors who exhibit academic success as well as a commitment to campus involvement and community service.
Media students who received the Senior 100 Honorary this year were Zoe Lewis Nielsen and Nate Walinder, both in advertising. Finke, who was named a Senior 100 Honorary 31 years ago and was also the recipient of the UIAA 2022 Comeback Award, spoke to students about facing challenges while staying true to themselves and pursuing his passion, which led him to his current role at Experience Willow, an award-winning consulting firm he founded in 2012 that focuses on making brands, organizations, and lives better.
(Photo by JR Reed.)
Tina E. Akouris (BS ’94, journalism), a digital content editor at the Chicago Tribune, won the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headline Club for Best Sports Reporting in the large/online print newsroom category. Akouris won the award for coverage of the 50th anniversary of Title IX along with Colleen Kane, Meghan Montemurro, Julia Poe, Kori Rumore, Stacy St. Clair, and Amanda Kaschube. Akouris also won a Jones-Beck Award in April for Outstanding Professional Performance for her work on the Chicago Tribune’s audience team.
Learn more:
May 15, 2023
The Institute of Communications Research sponsored a two-day colloquium on Thursday, April 27, and Friday, April 28, 2023, to revisit and reconsider James Carey’s impact on the field of communication and media studies, and to highlight the recent launch of the James Carey Faculty Fellowship at the University of Illinois.
Presenters on April 27 featured:
Unfortunately, due to technical glitches, not everyone’s presentation from April 27 was available. Below are the recordings from Professor Emeritus John Nerone and Professor Emeritus Clifford Christians:
Presenters on April 28 featured:
Watch their presentations:
James Carey has had a profound impact on communication and media studies, and in shaping the direction of communication and media studies at the University of Illinois—as a professor, mentor, Dean of the College of Communications (now the College of Media), and Director of the Institute of Communications Research. He was, and remains, globally recognized for his wide-ranging contributions and interventions, including as an advocate for interdisciplinary studies of media and communications, as a historian of media, through his perspectives about communication, information, and media studies and their history, through his interests in the relation between communication studies, media studies, and cultural studies, through his attention to the technologies of communication and information, through his engagement with theories and histories of journalism, and as a contributor to theories and histories about the role of media in democratic forms of citizenship.
May 9, 2023
Several journalism students in the UI7 Newsroom team were recognized as winners of the 2023 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Mid-America Student Production Awards.
Winners include journalism graduate student Manu Ferreira for “Succeeding in a New World” in the Non-Fiction – Long Form category; journalism and political science dual-degree undergraduate student J. Sidney Malone for “Egg Prices” in the Multimedia Journalist category; and journalism undergraduate students Emmie Larson and Adrian Carrasco for “Illini Sports Night Pregame Special for Illinois Women’s Basketball” in the College Sports Program category. The pregame coverage was also the first show that Illini Sports Night aired on the B1G+ network. (Pictured above is the Illini Sports Night pregame show team.)
Ferreira and Larson also earned a nomination for “UI7 Live Special Report: Decision 2022” for live coverage of the 2022 election in the category of College Newscast. In addition, Malone was a finalist in the News Report – Light News category for “Egg Prices Are Up. Should You Buy a Chicken?”
Watch the winning videos below.
Succeeding in a New World Special:
May 5, 2023 | Kelly Youngblood
A group of Illinois advertising and computer science + advertising students earned second place in the district level at the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition held April 27-28 in South Bend, Indiana.
After extensive marketing research, the Illinois NSAC team of students—which includes researchers, strategists, creatives, media personnel, and designers—developed and pitched an integrative advertising campaign for this year’s NSAC corporate sponsor and worldwide job search site Indeed.
For Indeed, the team created the campaign tagline “Know It All” and produced a 12-page book with research, insights, strategy, and media placements, as well as five creative executions, a video spot, and a live 20-minute presentation. They worked on the project through Advertising 400: NSAC Campaign last fall, taught by Brittany Duff, associate professor of advertising, and this spring, taught by Carrie Wilson-Brown, lecturer of media and cinema studies and of advertising.
“I am so proud of this talented group of students,” Wilson-Brown said. “They exemplify the innovative thinking and professionalism we strive for in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising.”
Student presenters included advertising majors Brooke Button, Lauren Jenkins, and Thomas Sanders, and chemistry major Juan Camargo. Members of the executive board were CS+advertising major Ayesha Baweja, advertising majors Julie Garcia and Annee Mattson, and advertising and sociology major Cassidy Marcum.
Fifteen additional students have contributed to the campaign since the beginning of the school year or the start of second semester.
“Our executive board has been planning and working on this campaign since August, and we are so proud of our team and presenters,” Baweja said.
The Illinois NSAC team placed third in last year’s competition. Students are already seeking applicants to join the NSAC team for next year’s campaign.
NSAC is an annual competition that provides more than 2,000 college students hands-on experience in creating a strategic media campaign for a real corporate client. Students address real-world marketing challenges and must research the client and its competition, identify issues, and devise an integrated campaign. Then students pitch their campaign to the clients and a panel of AAF judges who are professionals in the advertising, marketing, and communications industry.
The University of Illinois AAF student chapter, which includes NSAC, is the largest in the nation.
May 5, 2023
Updated May 31, 2023
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.
Bronze Tablet
Inscription on the Bronze Tablets in the Main Library recognizes students ranking in the top three percent of their graduating class.
Highest Honors
For 2022-2023, the Highest Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors with a 3.97 to 4.0 GPA. (Ranges are based on percentages and may change slightly each year.)
High Honors
For 2022-2023, the High Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors with a 3.93 to 3.96 GPA. (Ranges are based on percentages and may change slightly each year.)
Honors
For 2022-2023, the Honors status in the College of Media is awarded to graduating seniors with a 3.86 to 3.92 GPA. (Ranges are based on percentages and may change slightly each year.)
James Scholars
This university-wide honors program encourages James Scholars to develop skills in leadership and service, research or honors coursework, service learning and global studies, and professional development.
Kappa Tau Alpha
This college honor society recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.
Senior 100 Honorary
This campus honor recognizes academics, leadership, service, and engagement at the University of Illinois.
American Advertising Federation’s 50 Most Promising Multicultural Students
Each year, the American Advertising Federation selects the 50 Most Promising Multicultural Students in the nation. Since the program began in 1997, the AAF Illinois chapter has had more winners than any other university or college. Winners participate in a three-day industry immersion program (when held in-person) with the highest-level industry executives and companies in New York City. They are also recognized at the annual Building Bridges for Our Future awards luncheon with top industry professionals and organizations.
Betty Hinckle Dunn Memorial Scholarship
Mr. Lyman Dunn, a graduate of the University of Illinois, established this scholarship in memory of his wife at the time of her death. Mrs. Dunn was a journalism graduate and a longtime officer of Women in Communications. Mr. Dunn died in 1986. The fund supports an undergraduate scholarship and an annual public lecture by a distinguished journalist.
Bill Geist Broadcast Journalism Writing Prize
This endowment was established in 1998 by alumnus Bill Geist, CBS correspondent and best-selling author. The award is presented to an undergraduate student majoring in broadcast journalism who demonstrates extraordinary ability and creativity in writing and reporting news for radio and television.
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.
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.
Cardiss Collins Scholarship for Diversity in Advertising
Established by the American Advertising Federation in 1996 to honor Illinois’ first black congresswoman, Rep. Cardiss Collins, this scholarship is awarded to a minority student intending to pursue advertising studies.
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.
Charla Krupp Endowed Scholarship for Internships in Journalism
As a 1975 journalism graduate, Charla Krupp was an inspiration to students, faculty, and professionals alike with her ambition, enthusiasm, and accomplishments. She had a strong desire to help students establish careers in major media markets, such as New York City. It was Ms. Krupp’s wish that the College of Media develop a valuable and practical internship program on her behalf, delivering a rich, diverse multimedia learning experience to allow students to gain hands-on skills for a successful career in journalism.
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.
Christopher Allen Scholarship
The Christopher L. Allen Scholarship is awarded to academically meritorious juniors and seniors enrolled in the College of Media or in the Department of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The scholarship was established in memory of Christopher Allen, a 1983 graduate of Illinois who had an outstanding political career, both at the state and national levels.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Advertising Scholarship
Established in 2004 by alumni donations to the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising Annual Fund, this current use fund provides awards to outstanding College of Media students, based on scholarship, character and professional achievement.
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.
Earl M. Cummings Advertising Education Research Award
These are academic research awards given to Master’s in Advertising students who demonstrate great promise in research.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Illinois Broadcaster’s Association Scholarship in Journalism
This scholarship was established in 2004 for an undergraduate journalism student majoring in broadcast journalism who demonstrates talent, commitment, excellence, and professional ambition in broadcasting. The student must have a superior record of academic performance and be the top student preparing to enter their senior year.
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.
James Webb Young Assistantships in Advertising
James Webb Young was one of the great pioneers and most honored figures in advertising. Mr. Young, a self-educated man who authored four textbooks on advertising, enjoyed a distinguished career that lasted six decades and bridged two centuries. It began with the writing of direct response advertising and continued to include, among other achievements, the creation of several now-classic ads and the founding of the Advertising Council. The fund was established at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1959. One of its main goals is to improve advertising by attracting talented graduate students from all over the world.
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 R. Foreman Scholarship
The Marajen Stevick Foundation established the John R. Foreman Scholarship fund in honor of John Foreman’s “outstanding service” to The News-Gazette, the community and the profession of journalism. A 1977 journalism alum, Foreman began his career at The News-Gazette as a reporter and was later promoted to state editor, city editor, managing editor, editor, and general manager. The scholarship underscores Foreman’s respect for education at all levels and his commitment to journalism and to the University of Illinois. The award provides internship or scholarship assistance to undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Journalism.
John T. Trebilcock Memorial Award
This memorial fund was established to honor the late John Trebilcock, a journalism teacher. The award recognizes a Daily Illini reporter judged to have done the year’s best investigative reporting. The Daily Illini staff chooses the recipient and matches the College of Media award.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marian and Barney Brody Creative Feature Article Writing Awards in Journalism
These awards were established in 1996 through the generosity of Marian Boruck Brody, a 1937 journalism graduate, who passed away in 2016. The awards are presented to journalism graduate or undergraduate students judged to have reported and written the best student feature articles during the academic year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Paul Schrage-McDonald’s Fellowship in Advertising
Paul D. Schrage received his master’s degree in advertising from the College of Communications in 1959. A marketing wizard for McDonald’s Corporation since 1967, Mr. Schrage deployed the “Golden Arches” synonymous with the fast-food giant and is credited with many of the chain’s other key innovations. In 2005, the Paul Schrage-McDonald’s Corporation Graduate Fellowship in Advertising Fund was established to support excellence in graduate education in advertising.
Paula L. Gottschalk Scholarship
The estate of Paula Gottschalk (BS ’66, advertising) provides fellowships for advertising students and scholarships for undergraduate students in journalism.
Raymond O. Torr Memorial Scholarship in Journalism
Illinois Journalism alumnus Raymond Torr was the public relations director for the National Fund for Medical Education. Upon his death, his colleagues established this memorial to honor his legacy. The award is presented to a graduating senior who shows promise of a successful professional career in journalism.
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.
Richard Tuttle Orr Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 1993 by Richard Tuttle Orr of Chicago, a University of Illinois journalism graduate. He was a Chicago Tribune staff member, and served as president of the Chicago Press Club and the Newspaper Farm Editors of America. The award provides scholarships based on academic merit and/or financial need to undergraduate students who are majoring or intend to major in journalism.
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 career in journalism, the Roger Ebert Fellows program was established in 2015 to provide learning experiences that focus on critical thinking and interpretative journalism. As a key component of the Roger Ebert Center, a select group of Illinois students experience in-depth mentoring by professional critics as they attend film festivals and write for Illinois Public Media and The Daily Illini—Roger’s beloved student newspaper.
S. Watson and Elizabeth S. Dunn Fellowship
Samuel Watson Dunn was the first PhD graduate from the University of Illinois with an advertising focus. He later returned to the University of Illinois to head the Department of Advertising from 1966-1977. Dr. Dunn was a major force in advertising education, especially in the graduate arena. This fellowship program was created by Dr. and Mrs. Dunn to honor his legacy.
Schlueter Family Endowed Fund for Internships in Journalism
James E. Schlueter is a 1980 graduate of the College of Media School of Journalism. A native of Edwardsville, Illinois, Schlueter was a sportswriter and columnist for The Daily Illini, and was a sportswriter and editor for five years before joining The Boeing Company. He is the second member of his family to earn a degree from the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Amy, are both grateful for the opportunities they have received as alumni from Big Ten universities and are proud and privileged to help future students secure future career success through internships.
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.
Wilma M. Haist Journalism Memorial Scholarship
This memorial fund was a bequest by Wilma M. Haist to honor her late husband, Lt. Col Glade F. Haist, United States Air Force, Class of 1936. The scholarship is to assist journalism students in need of aid and who strive to report news as it really is.
Get to know some of our College of Media alumni. Isabel Morales (BS ’13, journalism) is the media relations manager at The Nature Conservancy. Morales also participated in a Media Career Night alumni panel on “Nonprofits” in Spring 2022. Watch a recording of the session here.
Why did you major in journalism and how has it influenced your career path?
Majoring in broadcast journalism came from following a passion of reading, writing, and pop culture growing up. In high school I worked on the interviewing and design/layout of our school newspaper, which played a role in my decision to major in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a freshman I got involved in The Daily Illini as a page designer, allowing me to try out so many different aspects of news later on such as editing and radio segments. Having the ability to dip into different areas of interest, I fell in love with the production side of journalism! So I found an internship at a local TV station practicing pulling segments as a news anchor. I got my first broadcast journalism job at WNBC, which fostered my ideal company culture with the amount of nurture and willingness to learn from each other. I then moved on to a concept producer for an NBC affiliate in Chicago, where I would work overnight cutting scripts and writing articles. After my time in NBC, I had a complete lifestyle change where I became a PR coordinator for the Museum of Science and Industry. I realized at this job that I enjoyed storytelling and being a voice for a brand. My current role is with The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, where I use my storytelling abilities through visual media, producing news, and being a reporter.
What is one of your favorite memories as a College of Media student?
For one of my broadcasting classes we had to check out equipment, one being a giant tripod. I remember being on the Quad with my classmates feeling silly with all the equipment we had to have tracking down students for a quick quote, but having my peers who were also so passionate in this career made this memory so sentimental to me. After being on the Quad we would all go edit our pieces together, learn from one another, and form an inclusive environment. The College of Media being a small college really unites and promotes a close-knit community, which I found in my classes and being a part of the college overall.
How do you think the College of Media prepared you for your career?
The college prepared me in so many ways! Connecting with your classmates, special guests, professors, and resources go a long way. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in general has endless opportunities with internships, professional development events, classes, and overall embraces you to explore new and a variety of things.
What are three skills that you think a Media student needs to be successful?
First, be curious! Curiosity innovates ideas and interests. Second, be transparent with yourself and the work you are accomplishing. Know why you are pursuing what you want and be transparent with who you are working with to maintain clarity. Last but not least, be flexible. There are going to be days where you have a variety of things to do or things that may not go your way but having the ability to adapt in your environment will go a long way.
What advice do you have for current Media students?
Try out what you can and what you have time for! Don’t overwhelm yourself; quality over quantity. I’d also say to put yourself in a space where you can have a continuous drive, be encouraged, and have confidence.
Who inspired you?
Everyone I worked with at The Daily Illini! The DI has talented, curious, and warm people with limitless motivation to explore new parts of the field, which really refreshed and influenced me to achieve anything I put my mind to. I also met my husband at the DI!
What are you most proud of?
My entire career journey. I came a long way and feel empowered looking back at my decisions and accomplishments. I’m also proud of not staying in a traditional career track. The people I surrounded myself with in both a professional and friend capacity always influenced me to grow and do what I love. I found that the more I challenged and strived for all my desires I felt fulfilled. What I am proud of now is being in a role and environment that stimulates growth with each other but within your own skill set as well.
—Interview by Emily Campos, New Voices Intern