CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Two seniors in journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have won two of the top three places in the personality/profile writing competition in the prestigious 43rd annual William Randolph Hearst Foundation's Journalism Awards Program.
Evangeline "Angie" Leventis from Lincolnwood, Ill., won first place and a $2,000 scholarship for her article from The Daily Illini headlined "A Life of Their Own. 45 Miles From Campus, Another World Exists." Her article profiled an Amish minister and his life in Illinois Amish country. Leventis also will have the opportunity to compete in the national writing championship in San Francisco this June.
Lorien Menhennett from Oak Park, Ill., won third place and a $1,000 scholarship for her article published in the CU Cityview headlined "R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Glenn Simpson Earns It Every Day." The article profiled a university residence hall janitor.
The University of Illinois department of journalism will receive matching grants for both scholarships. With five of the six writing competitions in the Hearst Program completed, Illinois remains in the top 10 schools for accumulated points. The Hearst Awards are considered by many to be the Pulitzer Prizes of college journalism.