Award Recipients

PDF | Print | E-mail

Alumni Achievement Awards

Criteria for CMCMA Alumni Achievement Award

  1. Recipient must be an alumnus/alumna of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts.
  2. Factors to be considered in voting are:
    1. Career achievement
    2. Public Service
    3. Involvement in SIUC/MCMA
2009

Leonard J. Baldyga (Journalism '59), former Director of the Office of European Affairs at the U.S. Information Agency

2008

Mike Reis (Radio-Television '78), Voice of the SIU Salukis.

2007

Paul Elledge (Cinema-Photography '81), Paul Elledge Photography.

2006

William Livek (Radio-Television '76), Co-CEO of Simmons Market Research.

2005

Jackie Spinner (Journalism '92), Reporter, The Washington Post.

2004

Don Stork (Journalism '61), President, PHD.

2003

Sam Glick (Radio-Television '75), Partner, Davis Glick Entertainment.

2002

Steve James (Cinema & Photography '84), Director/Producer of "Hoop Dreams"

2001

Mike Leary (Radio-Television '74), senior vice president and director of broadcast production, Foote, Cone & Belding.

2000

Jim Bittermann (Journalism with Radio-Television minor '69), CNN Senior Correspondent, Paris, France

1999

F. Lwanyantika Masha (Journalism, BS '65; M.A. '70; Ph.D. '72), former Director in the United Nations Department of Public Information

1998

Gary Chapman (Radio-Television '69), Chairman, President and CEO, LIN Television Corp., Providence, R.I.

1997

Liz Ralston (Cinema & Photography '86), Director of Production, Dream Quest Images.

1996

Douglas Anderson (Journalism '77), Dean, College of Communications, Penn State

1995

Ralph Becker (Speech '55), President, Saluki Investors Corp.

1994

Robert Weiss (Radio-Television '72), President, St. Clair Entertainment

1993

Dr. Kelly Leiter '64 '70

1992

Dr. David L. Selby ë70

1991

Michael D. Hanes ë65

1990

Dr. Martin R. Adams ë67

1989

Dr. Bill W. Stacy í60, í65, ë68

College Service Award
2004

Mike Covell, (Cinema & Photography Assistant Professor), 25 years of service, Big Muddy Film Festival

2004

Henry Romersa, (Radio-Television Lecturer), 25 years of service, Nashville Studies

1994

Scott Kane, (Cinema & Photography '68), Owner, Scott Kane and Associates

Commencement Speakers
2007

Paul Elledge (Cinema-Photography '81), Paul Elledge Photography.

2006

William Livek (Radio-Television '76), Co-CEO of Simmons Market Research

2005

Jackie Spinner, (Journalism '92), Reporter at The Washington Post

2004

Dr. Charles Berg, distinguished teaching professor of the College of Communication at the University of Texas-Austin

2003

Randy Daniels, (Radio-Television '73), Secretary of State, New York

2002

Oscar Gandy Jr., Professor and expert on media technology, race and public policy

2001

Paul Simon, former Director of Public Policy Institute, SIUC, former U.S. Senator

2000

Judith Roales, (Journalism '65), former Publisher, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, St. Petersburg, FL., now resides in Washington D.C.

1999

Marcia Bullard, (Journalism '74), CEO and Editor of USA Weekend, Arlington, VA.

1998

Robert Weiss, (Radio-Television '72), President, Broadway Pictures, Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

1997

Liz Ralston, (Cinema & Photography '86), Director of Production, Imaginary Forces, Burbank, CA.

1996

Delano Lewis, President and CEO, National Public Radio

1995

Steve James, (Cinema & Photography '84) Director/Producer of "Hoop Dreams", Oak Park, IL.

1994

Brian Lamb, Founder and CEO, C-SPAN


Honorary Degrees
2000

Sir David Nicholas, former Head, Independent Television News, U.K.

1998

Norm Pattiz, Founder and Chairman, Westwood One (radio syndication service), Culver City, CA.

1997

Delano Lewis, President and CEO, National Public Radio

1995

George Fisher, (Political Science '80), former Chair, President, & CEO, Eastman Kodak

1994

Brian Lamb, Founder and CEO, C-SPAN

Obelisk Awards

Criteria for Obelisk Award Recipients

A person chosen to receive the Obelisk Leader Award should represent the following criteria:

  • Embodies excellence in his/her field of endeavor
  • Has made a meaningful impact on his/her field while living and/or working in the Chicago land area
  • Has made significant contribution to the community
  • Has received a degree (Associates, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate) from SIU at Carbondale (which includes the School of Medicine and all of the off-campus programs including Nakajo, Japan)
  • Exemplifies SIU goals and can be held as a role model for others to emulate
  • Is present at the dinner to personally receive the award, and serves on the selection committee for the next yearís awards.
2001

Tom Baur, (Radio-Television '70), Chairman of the Board Travel Technology Group

2000

Doug Ray, (Journalism '69), President and Chief Operating Officer, Paddock Publications, Inc., Arlington Heights, IL.

1999

Andrea Murphy, (Journalism '72, '76), President, Grant/Jacoby, Inc., Chicago, IL.

1998

Steve James, (Cinema & Photography '84) Director/Producer of "Hoop Dreams," Oak Park, IL.

SIUC Distinguished Alumni

Criteria for Distinguished Alumni Award

  • Selections are to reflect the diverse composition of the worldwide SIUC alumni body and will include alumni who have brought honor to Southern Illinois University through outstanding performance in their chosen field, career or profession. Notable achievements include accomplishments in professional organizations, distinguished service, celebrity status or prominence, or winning prestigious awards or competitions. These individuals will have displayed character and utmost dignity in pursuit of their career aspirations, and in turn, have earned the respect of their peers. This includes alumni with local, national and international accomplishments.
  • Alumni who have demonstrated an exemplary history of service to SIUC, which has greatly benefited the university and enhanced educational opportunities for current students.
2001

Jim Bittermann, (Journalism '69), CNN Senior Correspondent, Paris.

2001

Chris Bury, (POLS '75), Correspondent ABC News - Nightline.

1998

Robert Weiss, (Radio-Television '72), President, Broadway Pictures at Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

1997

Tom Blomquist, (Radio-Television '72), writer, executive producer, lecturer.

1997

Judith Roales, (Journalism '65), former Publisher, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, St. Petersburg, Fla., now resides in Washington D.C.

1996

Marcia Bullard, (Journalism '74), CEO and Editor of USA Weekend, Arlington, VA.

Distinguished Service Awards
2001

Paul Simon, former Professor at SIUC, former Director of the Public Policy Institute, SIUC, and retired Illinois U.S. Senator

2000

Judith Roales, (Journalism '65), former Publisher, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, St. Petersburg, FL., now resides in Washington D.C.

1999

Marcia Bullard (Journalism '74), CEO and Editor of USA Weekend

1998

Robert Weiss, (Radio-Television '72), President, Broadway Pictures at Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

1997

Tom Blomquist, (Radio-Television '72), writer, executive producer, lecturer

Department of Cinema and Photography



Visit the Department of Cinema and Photography Website
Offers undergraduate and graduate courses in the history, theory, criticism, and production of cinema, photography, and digital arts. Our educational orientation is a holistic, arts and humanities based understanding of media as social and cultural practice.

Department of Radio-Television



Visit the SIU Department of Radio-Television Website
Offering a combination of theoretical and practical hands-on opportunities such as radio stations, broadcast television, and alt.news.

School of Journalism



Visit the SIU School of Journalism Website
The SoJ combines a broad exposure to the liberal arts with a detailed understanding of journalism in modern society.

Graduate Studies



Visit the SIU MCMA Graduate Studies Website
The MCMA Graduate Studies Program is a flexible, college-wide program that emphasizes a cross-disciplinary approach where intellectual and creative diversity are recognized as integral to artistic and scholastic excellence.