Illini Media Alumni Network

04/10/2025

An enormous thank you to our alumni! Thanks to our Crowdfund Our Computers donors, Illini Media was able to upgrade every single computer powering The Daily Illini, WPGU and the Illio. You helped us replace machines nearly as old as our students—now we're running on tech worthy of a cutting-edge student media company.

And shout-out to our Endowed Chairs donors—your support replaced every chair in our office (goodbye, 1999!). These new seats in the University YMCA basement are giving our students the support they need—literally and figuratively—as they chase big stories and bigger dreams.

We couldn't do it without you. THANK YOU! 🙌

For a full list of donors, visit our website: https://illinimedia.org/alumni/

04/03/2025

Big news from Illini Media! Thanks to our amazing alumni, we’ve raised $61K to upgrade computers and technology across The Daily Illini, WPGU and The Illio. Meet our new student leaders and check out the new merch store.
Get the scoop in our latest Alumni Connections newsletter: https://conta.cc/3R0o31O

12/16/2024

We're wrapping up the year with exciting updates and inspiring stories in the December issue of the Illini Media Alumni Connections Newsletter!

Read the latest issue for all of our news and updates including progress on ‘Crowdfund Our Computers,’ a dive into the past with one of the DI’s most iconic front pages, a new journalism workshop from our volunteer alumni mentors and so much more: https://conta.cc/4fjyYgD

12/03/2024

🎉 It’s Giving Tuesday, and we’re 72% to our goal! 🎉

Thanks to your incredible support, we’re closing in on our $55,000 target to ‘Crowdfund Our Computers!’ This funding will help ensure the future of The Daily Illini, WPGU and Illio by providing the technology our students need to thrive.

Let’s finish strong! ⭐️ Donate today to make an impact: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Y2pzMGkXj1EKs1MVVh1n_g

Together, we can secure the future of Illini Media! 🧡💙

11/26/2024

🚨 Exciting News! 🚨

We just received a $3,199 grant from the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois! 🎉 We're now 65% of the way to our $55,000 goal! This grant shows how much the Champaign-Urbana community supports preserving the future of The Daily Illini, WPGU, and Illio. 💙 But we need YOUR help to reach the finish line!

💻 Donate today to help us invest in the technology we need: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Y2pzMGkXj1EKs1MVVh1n_g

Every gift counts—let’s make this happen together! 🙌

11/12/2024

🎉 We’re halfway to our goal! 🎉

Thanks to early donations, we’ve raised $28,000 toward our $55,000 campaign to bring 17 new Apple computers to Illini Media. We've already purchased our first three computers, but we need your support to get the rest! 💻

Every dollar counts toward giving Illini Media students the tools they need to succeed. Donate today and make an impact for generations to come: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Y2pzMGkXj1EKs1MVVh1n_g

10/22/2024

Power up the next generation at Illini Media by helping us fund 17 bright, shiny, new Apples for the students at the DI, WPGU and Illio. An enormous thank you to the alumni who stepped up and already donated to get us 40% of the way to our goal.

Please consider a donation in any amount to help us in this effort to upgrade Illini Media to modern computers. Find out all the details: https://conta.cc/4ffvyMe

Donate today: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Y2pzMGkXj1EKs1MVVh1n_g

09/27/2024

Extra, extra! Latest issue of the Illini Media Alumni Connections newsletter is out today with an update on memorial funds, student leadership profiles, a new feature called my first job, fun ways to support Illini Media with a click, a memorable upcoming anniversary and more!

Full issue: https://conta.cc/3XJzmy7

08/04/2024

Our alumni have come together to honor Anne Cusack Derk’s memory by establishing an annual grant that will benefit current student journalists, photographers, designers, illustrators and video creators during their time at Illini Media.

Annie was a towering talent as a photojournalist who got her start at The Daily Illini where she was the first woman photo chief. She went on to work for the Daily Herald, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. Throughout her exceptional career, she made art in the service of journalism. Her super power was her huge, open heart. While producing all that great work, she was a spectacular mom, wife and a loving friend to so many.

To honor and preserve Annie’s legacy you can make a donation to the Anne Cusack Derk Fund: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/ug-Tna_OGr8U4hrrQLEMVQ

07/10/2024

A memorial will be held on Saturday, July 20, for beloved Anne Cusack Derk. Visitation will be 9:15 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Health, 1775 Grove in Glenview.

Mass starts at 10 a.m. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. at All Saints Cemetery, 700 N. River Road in Glenview, and a lunch reception at 12:30 p.m. at Riverfront Restaurant at the Hilton Northbrook.

Questions: Please contact [email protected].

An Anne Cusack Fund is being started at the Daily Illini by Kevin Horan, Patti Wingert, Jim Schlueter and others. You can contribute at the Illini Media. Just write “Anne Cusack Fund in the memo field.”

Questions: call Kevin at 360.221.2324.

RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/29xvxxkp

Here's where to donate: https://tinyurl.com/4yj5s3w7

When you get to the actual donation page, it will give you the option to write a note. Please write “Anne Cusack Fund.”

05/13/2024

Illini Media is sending condolences to the family of Rick Sallinger, one of our 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees.

During his time at the University of Illinois, Sallinger was a music director and program director at WPGU 107.1FM. He graduated in 1971.

Sallinger's WPGU colleagues readily recall [him] as a person with big dreams. Guiding the station as it moved from a closed-circuit to a commercial enterprise, Sallinger built consensus to make WPGU a market competitor. The radio station began airing commentaries for the first time under his leadership. Sallinger got his professional start in news radio, and reported for WMAQ-TV (Chicago), CNN and most recently at CBS4 (Denver). Sallinger covered the Columbine (Colo.) High School shooting, the Oklahoma City bombing trials and three wars. His work earned him, among other honors, a Peabody award.

We are thankful for Rick's WPGU and Illini Media legacy, and we will carry his memory and passion with us as we continue to build the nonprofit student media of the future.

View Richard "Rick" Sallinger's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

04/28/2024

Thanks to everyone who came out to support and sustain the future of Illini Media at the Wrigleyville Reunion. It was so great to reconnect with friends and make new ones!

04/26/2024

There's still time to make plans and join us tomorrow at the Illini Media Wrigleyville Reunion at Sluggers. Buy tickets in advance or at the door. All the info on the event and advance tickets: https://conta.cc/3U9Osv3

04/25/2024

A preview of limited edition and new merchandise available at the Wrigleyville Reunion on sale this Saturday Sluggers World Class Sports Bar and Dueling Pianos! There's still time to purchase tickets in advance: https://conta.cc/3U9Osv3 You can also purchase tickets at the door.

04/21/2024

Only a few days left to get your tickets for the Illini Media Wrigleyville Reunion on April 27! For more info including how to purchase tickets, limited edition merchandise and more: https://conta.cc/3U9Osv3 Hope to see you there. 🧡💙

04/10/2024

Extra, extra! Latest issue of the Illini Media Alumni Connections newsletter is out today with the latest on the Wrigleyville Reunion, a financial update, a visit to campus, the new student managers and much more: https://conta.cc/4d51Cm3

03/29/2024

ELITE 8! 🧡💙

Four days after earning its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2005, No. 3 Illinois men’s basketball was opposite No. 2 Iowa State. Both squads had dominant outings in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament despite excelling in very different areas of the floor. Illinois entered with one of the most productive offenses while Iowa State was known for its elite defense. Ultimately, the Illini’s offense outlasted the Cyclones and advanced to the Elite Eight with a 72-69 win.

Head coach Brad Underwood stuck with his most more frequent starting five on Thursday night. Graduate student forwards Quincy Guerrier and Marcus Domask were next to fifth-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr., senior forward Coleman Hawkins and sophomore guard Ty Rodgers

Illinois came down with the tip off and Iowa State’s staunch defense immediately forced a turnover. However, the Illini returned the favor on the opposite end and got on the board thanks to a three-pointer from Shannon.

📲 Click the link in our bio to read more

✍️ Written by Conor Blount
📸 Photo by James Hoeck

03/27/2024

The countdown is on! One month from today Illini Media alumni will gather at Sluggers in Wrigleyville to reconnect with friends and make new ones. Don't miss out. Get your tickets TODAY. All the info on the event including tickets and limited edition merch: https://conta.cc/3VdkXuI