Uni High

Uni alum Paul Debevec (’88) was honored with an Academy Award for Technical Achievement for his pioneering work in high dynamic range, image-based lighting techniques.

Scientific & Technical Awards | 2026 Scientific & Technical Awards | 2026

Balázs Bognar (Uni High Class of 1996 and 2024 Rising Star Award recipient) returned to Champaign-Urbana to speak with University of Illinois students and faculty on April 20. This was a sponsored lecture between the Dept. of Landscape Architecture and the School of Architecture. Bognar is a partner at Kengo Kuma and Associates Architecture Firm and continues to make an impact by supporting Uni and its students, strengthening our campus and community, and shaping projects across the globe.
We’re proud to see Uni High alumni leading, giving back, and inspiring the next generation.

"Dhar's Stars" in their final meeting of the year with Uni alum Vilas Dhar (’01). Dhar is a global expert on artificial intelligence policy and a technology and philanthropy executive and President and Trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. Dhar met via Zoom this year with 12 students and a few staff to discuss changes and developments in AI throughout the world.

Connecting with our Uni High community in Denver this weekend was such a special reminder of what makes this group so meaningful 💙🧡

Whether you joined us or were with us in spirit, we’re grateful to have you as part of the Uni High alumni family. These moments together highlight the lasting connections that continue to grow, no matter where life takes us.

We can’t wait to see you at a future gathering. Until then, thank you for keeping the Uni spirit strong wherever you are!

🎉 We Did It – and More! 🧡💙

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, we not only met our Orange & Blue Days goal we exceeded it by 10+ donors!

A special thank you to Mike Bekiares, Drs. Crystal and Karl Radnitzer, and Chris Payne for their generous matching gifts and challenge contributions. Your support made an even bigger impact possible!

We are so grateful to every donor who joined us. Together we are making a difference! Your generosity directly supports our students, programs, and the Uni High community. Because of you we are able to expand opportunities, fund new initiatives, and strengthen the connections that make our school so special.

Thank you for being part of this amazing journey. We cannot wait to see what we will accomplish next!

Surprise Challenge Alert! 🎉

Thanks to 10 amazing donors, $2,000 has been unlocked for Uni High! Now, we’re thrilled to announce a special third challenge from Chris Payne, 1971 Uni alum (pictured in the middle) with Janet Kroencke, Senior Director of Uni High Advancement (left), and Hannah LeVanti, Assistant Director of Advancement (right).

We only need 1 more donor to unlock her $500 gift! Every contribution, big or small, helps bring extra support to the Innovations in Learning Fund—enhancing classrooms, technology, and the makerspace where students turn curiosity into real-world skills.

It’s the final day of Orange & Blue Days! 🧡💙
Make your gift today and help us finish strong!

Link to give: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofIllinoisUrbanaChampaign/orange-blue-days-2026/pages/CampusCommunityCulture/UniHigh

It’s the final day of Orange & Blue Days! 🧡💙

There’s still time to maximize the impact of your gift. We only need 7 more donors to unlock an additional $200 per gift, thanks to a generous challenge from Drs. Crystal and Karl Radnitzer, former Uni Associate Director of Student Life.

Make a gift of any size, and it will help bring an extra $200 per gift to support the Innovations in Learning Fund at Uni High.

Your support enhances classrooms, technology, and the makerspace where students turn curiosity into real-world skills and confidence.

Make your gift today and help us finish Orange & Blue Days strong! 🧡💙

Link to give: https://payment.giving.illinois.edu/schools/UniversityofIllinoisUrbanaChampaign/orange-blue-days-2026/pages/CampusCommunityCulture/UniHigh

Challenge 2 = COMPLETE! 🎉🧡💙

You did it again. We unlocked the $1,000 gift! Now it’s time to match your impact 👏

Right now, you can maximize the impact of your gift!

A special thank you to Drs. Crystal and Karl Radnitzer, former Uni Associate Director of Student Life, for this exciting challenge. For the next 10 donors who make a gift of any size, the Radnitzers will contribute an additional $200 per gift in support of the Innovations in Learning Fund at Uni High.

Be one of the 10 and help unlock an extra $200 for Uni with your donation!

Your support enhances classrooms, technology, and the Maker Space where students turn curiosity into real-world skills and confidence.

Make your gift today and help us maximize this opportunity for Uni High! 🧡💙

Link to give: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofIllinoisUrbanaChampaign/orange-blue-days-2026/pages/CampusCommunityCulture/UniHigh

Challenge 1 = COMPLETE! 🎉🧡💙

We unlocked our first $500 gift. Thank you, Uni community!

Next up, thanks to the generosity of Mike Bekiares ’92, once we reach 15 total donors, we will unlock an additional $1,000 for Uni High.

Gifts to the Innovations in Learning Fund provide students access to professional-level equipment and hands-on creative spaces that prepare them for college and beyond.

Make your gift and help spread the word so we can unlock this next challenge together!

Thank you again for your support, Mike!

Link to give: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofIllinoisUrbanaChampaign/orange-blue-days-2026/pages/CampusCommunityCulture/UniHigh