From the Nominator

"Issue 3 of our university magazine, Evermore, focused largely on the emotional story of Texas Tech's connections to the Columbia space shuttle's final mission. It ended in disaster on Feb. 1, 2003, when the shuttle disintegrated on reentry, and all seven people aboard were killed, including commander Rick Husband, a Texas Tech alumnus, and pilot Willie McCool, the son of two faculty members. The story was about them and their fellow Red Raiders who stepped up in the aftermath of the disaster to help in whatever way they could—embodying the ideals of grit, integrity, courage, and selflessness.   

Because we did not have photos from many of the most emotional moments of the story, we worked with Emiliano Ponzi to illustrate them. Our goal was to be able to show these most important moments in the story in a way that was respectful to the people involved but also authentic to the gravity and weight of those moments.   

On Jan. 28, 2023, four days before the 20th anniversary, we hosted an in-person commemorative event at Space Center Houston, the event center for NASA's Johnson Space Center. We brought together the Texas Tech and NASA communities to remember those lost and honor the undying spirit that remains to this day. Two of Ponzi’s illustrations were central to our event collateral.  

Based on the reception to the magazine and the feedback from our 232 attendees, this endeavor solidified their connections to Texas Tech and their pride in being Red Raiders."

From the Judges

“Remembering Columbia” stood out in the world of illustration. The collection of illustrations is stunning, with a style that is both sharp and stylized, capturing the imagination with its interesting angles and masterful use of light. The judges were impressed with how impactful and emotionally charged the illustrations were. The thoughtful approach of using uplifting images at the beginning and end further added to the emotional resonance of the work.