Illinois Alumni Magazine Wins Top Honors at the Eddie & Ozzie Awards
At this year’s Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards, Illinois Alumni earned two national honors, celebrating the power of its storytelling and design in the magazine publishing world. These wins underscore Illinois Alumni’s commitment to showcasing exceptional individuals from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who are changing the world.
Eddie Award Winner
Best Profile (Association/Nonprofit Category)
“Legacy Builder” – Spring 2025 Cover Story
By Ryan A. Ross | Design by Jen Dahlgren
Meet Adam Bleakney, a two-time Illinois alumnus who has redefined the field of wheelchair racing. As coach of the most successful collegiate wheelchair racing team in the world, Bleakney is not only a mentor to elite athletes—he’s also an advocate for disability rights and an innovator in assistive technology. Through calm leadership, relentless curiosity, and a passion for inclusion, he’s built a legacy that extends far beyond the track.
Ozzie Award Winner
Best Feature Design (Consumer Category)
“His Dream Job” – Summer 2024 Cover Story
By Monica Fountain | Design by Jen Dahlgren
Step inside the National Civil Rights Museum through the eyes of its president, Dr. Russell Wigginton, PHD ’01 LAS. This moving feature explores how Wigginton’s deep family roots, personal history, and academic journey led him to the Lorraine Motel in Memphis—once the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and now a powerful site of reflection, education, and hope.
Together, these stories bested nationally recognized competitors like AARP: The Magazine, Consumer Reports, and AARP Bulletin. We’re proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in publishing—while telling stories that are uniquely Illinois.
Explore more award-winning storytelling in the Illinois Alumni digital magazine
