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Annual Memorial Awards

Illini Media presents five memorial awards each year to deserving students selected by their peers. These awards were established by the friends and families of alumni we have lost to honor their lives. Below are the recipients of these awards.

TOM THOMAS, JR. MEMORIAL AWARD

Presented to the student who has made the greatest contribution to the quality and betterment of the radio station.

This award was established in 2008 by Tom's friends and family, in recognition of his dedication and contributions to WPGU and Illini Media.

2009- Joe Smyth
2010- Patrick Singer
2011- Ricky Bellows
2012- Aubrey Morse

Donate to the Tom Thomas, Jr. Memorial Award


JEFF PONCZAK MEMORIAL AWARD

Presented to the member of The Daily Illini sports staff who has contributed the most to teamwork, the spirit of friendship, and an unabashed love of sports and fun, as well as quality in sports reporting at the newspaper.

Jeff exemplified all of these same qualities every day of his all too-short life. This award was established in 2008 by Jeff's friends and family to honor him and support future sports journalists.

2009- Jeremy Werner
2010- Stuart Liebereman
2011- Alex Iniguez
2012- Emily Bayci

Donate to the Jeff Ponczak Memorial Award


RAYMOND CLAMAGE MEMORIAL AWARD

Presented to the member of The Daily Illini editorial staff not holding a senior position who has contributed the most to progress and quality of the newspaper during the year.
Raymond Clamage served on the Daily Illini Staff from 1942-43 and was killed in action in World War II. The award was established by his family to honor his life.

1953- Marian Osheroff
1954- Warren Wolfson
1955- Byron Zalken
1956- Pete Weitzel
1957- Nancy Cubbage
1958- Susan Teegarden
1959- Tom Barber
1960- Thomas Shilgalis
1961- Bob Adams
1962- Roger Ebert
1963- Larry Miller
1964- Marjorie Slavin
1965- Stephen Kaufman
1966- Daniel Balz
1967- Brian Braun
1968- Don Ruhter
1969- Marcia Kramer
1970- Debbie Daro
1971- Kathy Reinbolt
1972- Polly Anderson
1973- Robert Hykan
1974- Thomas R. Frisbie
1975- James M. Hillis
1976- Elizabeth S. Novickas
1977- Ken Paulson
1978- Michael Ireland
1979- Van Nightingale
1980- Jim Schlueter
1981- Ann Kalosch
1982- Paul Swiech
1983- Carl Walworth
1984- Joe Markman
1985- Kurt Greenbaum
1986- Adriana Colindres
1986- Joel Hamburger
1987- Jay Wilkins
1988- Paul Traverso
1989- Chris Wills
1990- Dave McGuire
1991- Chris Heidenrich
1992- Mary Johnson
1993- Eileen Finan
1994- Chris Adasiewicz
1995- Ernie Perez
1996- Matt Grotto
1997- Jonathon Berlin
1998- Ryan Suffern
1999- Amanda Criner
2000- Amanda Criner
2001- Charles Hawley
2002- Adam Jadhav
2003- Christopher Neubauer
2004- Kate Dougherty
2005- Courtney Linehan
2006- Danielle Gaines
2007- Nick Escobar
2008- Jonathan Jacobson
2009- Timothy DeBord
2010- Marie Wilson
2011- Emily Bayci
2012- Nathaniel Lash

THE JOHN T. TREBILCOCK MEMORIAL AWARD

Presented to a Daily Illini staff member for the best piece of investigative reporting.
Professor Trebilcock was a member of the College of Journalism Faculty teaching reporting and editing from 1948 until his death in 1955.

1960- Eugene Bryerton
1961- Susan Kaye Miller
1963- Robert Threlkeld
1964- Daniel Gareth Porter
1965- Margaret Converse
1966- Kenneth Blan
1967- Robert Goldstein
1968- Roger Simon
1969- Meg Gunkel
1970- Earl Merkel
1971- Barbara Dembski
1972- Robert Bayer
1973- Rick Pope
1974- Robert A. Consentino
1975- Bernard A. Schoenburg
1975- Patrice C.Wingert
1976- John D. Behan
1977- J. Fred Speck, Jr.
1978- Charles Stone
1979- James Dray
1980- Mike Waters
1981- Nancy Webb
1982- Tim Healy
1982- Mick McNicholas
1983- Barbara Taylor
1984- Ian Punnett
1985- Renny Zentz
1986- Dave Olson
1987- Ann Dwyer
1988- Jon Gardner
1989- Jeff Rutherford
1990- Michelle Latimer
1991- Jean Stoia
1992- Jim Sonnenberg
1993- Shawn Neidorf
1994- Sharon Farlow
1994- Brian Zents
1995- Niki Ziegler
1996- Deborah Mora
1997- Deborah Mora
1998- Josh Schollmeyer
1999- Julie Westfall
2000- Milton Carrero
2001- Evanglina Leventis
2002- Elizabeth Zeman
2003- Kristen Schorsch
2004- Ann Sanner
2005- Nate Sandstrom
2006- Courtney Linehan
2007- Megan O’Kelly
2008- Katie O’Connell
2008- Schuyler Opila
2009- Rachel Small
2010- Joseph Ward
2011- Jen Wheeler
2012- Darshan Patel

GERALD S. COHEN MEMORIAL AWARD

Presented to the member of The Daily Illini business staff not holding a management position who has contributed the most to the newspaper during the year.
The award was established by the parent of Gerald S. Cohen after his untimely death in 1956 in memory of his contributions and dedication to The Daily Illini business staff.

1995- Sally Benson
1996- Michelle Chen
1997- Chad Neff
1998- Howard Diamond
1999- Tracy Scibior
2000- Kim Seiffert
2001- Samantha Mao
2003- Jim Kleinich
2004- Erin Kelly
2005- Lindsey Brown
2006- Chris Kirkham
2007- Sarah Judd
2008- Alei Cook
2008- Heather Marzan
2009- Meagan Brown
2010- Claire Odgon
2011- Mary Lannon
2012- Hannah Ryan