blog posts Writing the first drafts of war Jun 14, 2017 11:00 am Degrees in Russian and rhetoric help shape the career of a combat reporter WPGU: Playing the sounds of summer since 1953 Aug 3, 2023 10:45 am 'It was the best learning laboratory that I ever could have asked for, and to this day, my college friends forever regard me as ‘cool’ because of what I did at WPGU.' What did a University of Illinois student handbook look like in 1934? Apr 20, 2017 11:15 am The handbook allowed Illini to plan which class dance they’d attend, pencil in a class schedules and check guidelines on curfew. (Yes, there was a residence hall curfew.) West Point of the West Jan 16, 2019 4:15 am From its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois has played an important role in training future military officers Website celebrates achievements of University of Illinois women Apr 3, 2018 12:00 pm Visit the University Library's website highlighting 150 women nominated for the significant achievements they realized as Illinois students, staff, faculty, or alumni Watch now: New BTN documentary ‘Illinois Artists’ Aug 21, 2018 11:45 am A new Big Ten Network documentary features the work of the Definition Theatre Company, Endalyn Taylor and Illinois Jazz Studies faculty Watch 'An Evening with Steve Chen,' alumnus and YouTube co-founder Aug 28, 2024 4:30 pm Steve Chen shares insights from his journey from U. of I. student to tech innovator, offering a firsthand account of the entrepreneurial path that led to YouTube's creation. He was on campus on August 26. War correspondent, alumnus Terrell Jermaine Starr on reporting from Ukraine Apr 13, 2022 11:15 am Terrell Jermaine Starr will visit U of I to talk about his experiences as a journalist reporting from Ukraine during the Russian invasion. The event is free and open to the public on April 19 in the auditorium of the new Campus Instructional Facility. Want to help Tatyana McFadden win an ESPY? Jul 12, 2016 3:45 pm You can vote for Illinois alumna Tatyana McFadden to win an ESPY for Best Female Athlete With A Disability Vilas Dhar: Investing in tech to create lasting social change Jan 24, 2022 10:30 am 'As we push to center technology on people, rather than products, we tap into a vast opportunity to amplify the very best of our humanity, creativity, and innovation.' U of I receives $1 million for scholarships from Give Something Back Foundation Nov 29, 2016 12:00 pm Founded by an LAS alumnus, national organization makes college a reality for students of modest means University Archives receives Ebert's movie press kits from Chicago Sun-Times Nov 1, 2017 10:30 am 'Chaz (Ebert’s) efforts to connect us with the Sun-Times have been an invaluable step forward to bring the Roger Ebert archival legacy home.' Two alums shed light on the Black experience on Rt. 66 Sep 9, 2021 1:15 pm Gina Lathan (AHS ’20) and Stacy Grundy (ACES ’10) opened Route History, a tourist destinations in Springfield gives visitors a different perspective on the Mother Road as well as a look into the history of Black struggle and success in the state capital. Two alumni named to Crain's '20 In Their 20s' May 29, 2018 2:15 am Read about alumni Dan Klein and Lucas Frye. Both have been named to the 2018 Crain’s Chicago Business 20 In Their 20s Two alumni being inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame Apr 25, 2016 3:30 pm The late William Sparks (PhD, chemistry, ’36) and the late Welton Taylor (BA, ’41, MS, ’47, and PhD, ’48, bacteriology) were among 16 inductees recently admitted to the National Inventors Hall of Fame Two alumnae, team share NASA award for 'major milestone in the history of flight' Jul 13, 2022 11:30 am NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Ingenuity Mars Helicopter team received the 2021 Robert J. Collier Trophy for 'the first powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet, thereby opening the skies of Mars and other worlds for discovery and exploration.' Time lists Illinois as one the best public colleges for bigger paychecks Apr 28, 2017 9:45 am TIME listed Illinois as one of the Top 10 best public colleges that deliver the biggest financial return for graduates' tuition dollars. The Nigerien Connection: Top diplomats between the U.S., Niger are Illini May 31, 2019 12:00 pm Eric Whitaker and Hassana Alidou took very different paths to reach their similar posts - but both paths led through Illinois and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The many Illinois memories of alumnus Fred Stahl Jun 17, 2019 10:15 am Fred met his wife in the Illini Union. One day they walked up to the door at the President's House and asked President David Henry’s wife if they could marry in the garden. They were one of the first couples to do so. The many faces of former Illini Troy Pryor Oct 17, 2018 10:15 pm Troy Pryor is making moves. But that’s nothing new for the former Illinois football player and current actor/entrepreneur who owns his own full-service production house The history of a sportswriter Oct 10, 2018 12:00 pm How majoring in history at Illinois and teaching high school helped Brad Evans become one of the most recognized and award-winning personalities in the field of sportswriting The Googlers: Mathematics alumni find success at Google Dec 12, 2017 11:00 am What can you do with a degree in mathematics? Count a career at one of the world's most successful tech companies among the possibilities The Fairy Godmother of Love Jul 20, 2018 3:15 am LAS alumna Bela Gandhi helps people make the right connection The courage to be first Feb 26, 2019 8:30 am When she graduated from Illinois in 1906, Maudelle Brown Bousfield was the only African American woman on campus. Later, she continued to break barriers in education in the Chicago Public Schools. The back story from the alum, NY Times attorney whose Trump letter went viral Oct 19, 2016 2:45 pm 'This wasn’t political to me. This was stating very basic propositions about how the law of freedom of the press works in this country.' David E. McCraw Taylor Rooks: Coming Home Oct 28, 2019 2:30 pm Rooks is only five years out from graduation, but she has already landed her own Bleacher Report web series, 'Take It There with Taylor Rooks.' Tatyana McFadden wins fourth straight Boston Marathon Apr 18, 2016 12:45 pm American Tatyana McFadden cruised to her fourth straight victory in the women’s wheelchair race at the 2016 Boston Marathon, finishing in a time of 1 hour, 42 minutes, and 16 seconds. Tatyana McFadden wins ESPY for Best Female Athlete with a Disability Jul 14, 2016 9:15 am The Baltimore Sun (July 14) McFadden has won three straight wheelchair marathon grand slams and is halfway to her fourth, with wins in Boston and London this year. Tatyana McFadden wins eighth Chicago Marathon, breaking her own course record Oct 9, 2017 2:15 pm The victory this year was special for the Illinois alumna after missing the London Marathon and finishing fourth at Boston. She had been undefeated since 2013. Tatyana McFadden claims fifth Boston Marathon title Apr 14, 2018 1:00 pm Boston Globe (April 16) McFadden made her decisive move at the 11-mile mark, overtaking defending champion Manuela Schar, and went on to win the women’s wheelchair division Showtime! Remembering the old campus-area movie theaters Oct 7, 2020 10:45 am The Co-Ed on Green Street was 'full all the time.' Students flocked to the Thunderbird Theatre on Goodwin, too, as well as the Rialto, with its massive steel-and-glass marquee; the art-deco Princess; and the Orpheum, with its 24 Greek columns. Shaping the narrative Jan 15, 2020 9:45 am Illinois alumnus Carey Cranston oversees the only national museum dedicated to celebrating the written word. Rooks receives College of Media Emerging Leader Award Jun 1, 2022 10:15 am Taylor Rooks, sports broadcaster at Bleacher Report, is known for her interviewing skills and for her ability to connect with athletes. This award honors her exemplary early career achievements and engagement with the college. Robert Falls: Visionary leader of Chicago's Goodman Theatre Jan 9, 2019 10:30 am Robert Falls’ theater career was launched at Illinois. '[We] were given a ton of freedom to act and direct; we did plays all over campus, in every nook and cranny.' Rich Nye: From Cubs pitcher to exotic vet pioneer Mar 1, 2017 9:30 am After his pitching career, Nye became a nationally renowned authority on avian medicine and 1989 president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Remembering Pro and Illini Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell Apr 13, 2020 9:45 am 'Bobby...reminisced about everything from his recruitment out of Hot Springs, Arkansas, his Illini football and track careers, his pro playing career... He spoke about how he met his wife, Gwen, on the UI campus.' Rededication game’s pregame and halftime festivities announced Oct 16, 2024 4:30 pm Fans are encouraged to get to their seats by 2 p.m. to catch a special pregame game ball presentation with Illini legends. Rashard Mendenhall: Gridiron writer Sep 9, 2019 9:45 am For Mendenhall, 'capturing a vision—a line or a scene' in the HBO show, Ballers, 'pulling inspiration out of the air and putting it on the TV screen, that’s as good as any touchdown.' Q&A with Tesla co-founder, U of I alumnus Martin Eberhard Jun 5, 2023 9:00 am When Martin Eberhard visited campus, we spoke with him about his memories of campus, advice for students and aspiring entrepreneurs, and the future of electric vehicles. Q+A with alumnus Russell Wigginton, president of the National Civil Rights Museum Jun 21, 2022 9:30 am From academia to public service, Russell Wigginton has led a career driven by a passion to assist others and build relationships – traits he’s carried since he was a student at Illinois. Q&A: Chris Silcox, former Illini gymnast and Spider-Man stunt double Aug 11, 2017 8:30 am If you saw Spider-Man: Homecoming, you saw Chris Silcox. You just didn’t realize it. Public Health alums on the front line of COVID-19 battle Apr 10, 2020 11:45 am 'The (epidemiology) knowledge and biostatistics prepared us for how a pandemic is going to come in waves, how we can track cases. ...Knowing the science and the (epidemiology) behind it really helps.' Practicing diplomacy Jan 8, 2019 4:30 am Larry Harris is bringing a little bit of Chicago to Cameroon, his first post in the Foreign Service. Poulter named to U.S. Women’s Volleyball roster for 2022 VNL May 12, 2022 9:00 am Former U of I All-American, Olympic Gold Medalist Jordyn Poulter will join the U.S. Women's National Team's roster this year. The U.S. Women are three-time league champions, 2020 Olympic gold medalists, and the No. 1-ranked team in the world. Passes for 22nd annual Ebertfest now on sale Jun 9, 2021 10:45 am Festival passes cover all of the screenings during the festival, which runs September 8-11 at the Virginia Theatre, a restored downtown Champaign movie palace, with related talks and panel discussions at other Champaign or University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign venues. Newsweek's 'Medical Marvels': U of I alum and his affordable bionic hand Dec 16, 2021 11:00 am Newsweek (Dec. 15) Aadeel Akhtar's company makes smart, durable, responsive and - this is key - affordable prosthetic limbs. 'We're... leveling the playing field for all those people who couldn't get access to this kind of technology before.' New program sends College of Education alumni abroad with students Oct 27, 2021 9:45 am 'We want to make study abroad just like all the rest of our teacher training, which relies heavily on the mentor teacher,' says director of international programs Allison Witt. 'It makes a lot of sense because it benefits both alumni and students.' NASA renames GLIDE mission after trailblazing U of I alumnus Dec 5, 2022 12:45 pm As one of the first African American men to earn a PhD in astrophysics, George Carruthers was a trailblazer. He invented the camera that took the first images of space, significantly improving our understanding of space and earth science. Memory Lane: The 2007 Valentine’s Day blizzard Feb 1, 2019 12:15 pm On Feb. 13, 2007, Chancellor Richard Herman cancelled classes at Illinois for the first time in almost 30 years. For some, it was the best snow day ever Meet the Illini Media Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Feb 16, 2022 11:15 am Journalists who documented history from World War II to the 2020 election, exposed the 'abortion underground' and covered the LGBTQ experience. A Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, TV legends, an artist best known for drawing 'Naughty Granny.'