Alumni filmmakers Hilla Medalia and Jack Piatt at the Oscars
Hilla Medalia's latest documentary film, Children No More: "Were and Are Gone," was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 2026 Oscars. The ceremony was held Sunday, March 15, in Los Angeles.
The film follows Israeli women activists hosting a silent weekly vigil in Tel Aviv, holding photographs of children killed in Gaza during the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Medalia earned two degrees at SIU Carbondale: a bachelor's degree in radio-television and a master's degree in professional media practice.
Jack Piatt, founder of Highway West Entertainment, was among the team that won an Oscar for the Best Live-Action Short nominee, ”The Singers,” at Sunday's ceremony. Piatt was a producer of the project. The film tied for the win in its category with "Two People Exchanging Saliva," a rarity in the award show's history.
Piatt earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and took graduate classes in the college’s professional media and media management studies program.
Hilla Medalia. Photo Provided
Jack Piatt. Photo Provided
Yolina Lindquist '25 wins Miss COSMO International
Yolina Lindquist, a 2025 graduate of SIU and native of Metropolis, Illinois, was crowned Miss Cosmo International during the Miss Cosmo International Competition in Vietnam in December.
Earlier, Lindquist won the Miss Cosmo Illinois crown and then beat out 50 competitors to win the national crown in El Paso, Texas.
Miss Cosmo International is the world’s largest celebration of impactful beauty and a music festival in Ho Chi Min City.
Lindquist graduated summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in May with four bachelor’s degrees in four years. She was also named the university’s Economics Student of the Year during her tenure on campus.
Jay Crippen '14 appointed Carbondale Fire Chief
Alumnus Jay Crippen, a 24-year veteran of the Carbondale Fire Department, was named the new fire chief in February.
Crippen, who earned his bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from SIU, has more than 27 years of fire service experience.
Carbondale City Manager Stan Reno, also an SIU alum, cited Crippen's demonstrated leadership skills, institutional knowledge, and long-time commitment to public safety in appointing him to the job.
Kaleb Wilson named Enologist of the Year by Grape Growers Association
Kaleb Wilson, a 2004 graduate of SIU, who received his degree in forestry, has been named "Enologist of the Year" by the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association. Wilson was presented the award during the 2026 Midwest Wine and Grape Summit.
Wilson has been with Blue Sky Vineyard as a winemaker since 2005. In addition to the recent accolades, Wilson has also been awarded Best in Show at the Illinois Wine Competition and the Ted Wichmann Grape Grower of the Year.
Mark Philipp '06 earns Super Bowl Ring
A former Southern Illinois University football player is continuing to make his mark in the NFL.
Mark Philipp, a 2006 SIU graduate and former Saluki defensive tackle, is currently the associate head strength coach for the 2026 Super Bowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
Philipp joined the organization in 2019 as a strength and conditioning assistant and worked his way up through the staff before moving into his current role.
Before arriving in Seattle, Philipp spent time at several major college programs, including serving as head football strength coach at Nebraska and working on the strength staff at USC and Oregon State.
At SIU, Philipp was a team captain and earned his degree in 2006 before beginning a career in strength and conditioning that eventually led to the NFL.
Heather Henley, USCA Associate Vice Chancellor of Marketing, Communication
University of South Carolina Aiken has named Heather Henley '09 to serve in the newly created role of associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication.
Henley comes to USCA from Augusta University (AU), where she has served as the director of scientific communications at the Immunology Center of Georgia (IMMCG). Henley led the development and execution of strategic communication initiatives aimed at elevating IMMCG’s visibility and reputation. She managed proactive media relations by building strong connections with local, regional and national media outlets, and oversaw the planning and execution of key events and community outreach initiatives.
Previously, Henley served as the director of brand communications at AU. In that role, she undertook one of her most noteworthy projects: unifying AU’s brand during an extended post-merger transition and supporting recruitment campaigns that delivered measurable increases in engagement and brand recognition.
Her career also extends beyond higher education; from 2013 to 2019, she held various editorial roles at the Savannah Morning News.
Henley received a Master of Public Administration and a certificate in nonprofit leadership from AU. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in communication design from Southern Illinois University.