"In June 2022, the late Washington Post publisher and University of Chicago alumna Katharine Graham became the 17th person featured in the United States Postal Service Distinguished Americans stamp series. As magazine editors and post office nerds, we naturally started wondering: Had any other UChicagoans ascended to (as the story puts it) “top-right-corner heights”?
Quite a few, we soon discovered, and not necessarily those we expected. Household names like alumnus Carl Sagan and storied football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, for example, were not among them. Instead, they included less popularly known, but equally accomplished figures: a choreographer, a documentary photographer, the originator of Black History Month, and more. Their stories, combined with their postage portraits in this visual feature, give a mini education in several aspects of American history and a window into what, in the federal government’s view, makes for an American icon. In succinct captions, we encapsulated the lives and work of these extraordinary people, celebrating a diverse group of UChicago alumni and scholars and inviting readers to learn more about them."
From the Judges
Unusual—and highly effective—manner in which to highlight some top U of Chicago alumni. The focus on those who reached top-right-corner status is very creative. Well-written piece. Nicely done.
