From the Nominator

The University of Texas at San Antonio (USTA) was established in 1969 to serve South Texas, with a special emphasis on providing higher education to the Hispanic community. While emphasis on student success is paramount, in recent years, the university has experienced a rise in research prominence from earning a Carnegie R1 designation. As an institutional (not solely alumni) magazine, Sombrilla Magazine is charged with telling stories that cover it all--research, alumni profiles, campus happenings, etc. It aims to engage readers beyond alumni--stakeholders such as research partners, city and state policymakers, and community leaders. In 2023, we conducted a “listening tour” of our readers, and what emerged from those discussions is a clear editorial directive to make the university's world-class research accessible to the broad readership of the magazine. This new strategy gave us inspiration to get innovative with our storytelling. We knew we needed a big cover story that showcased our research relevance on a national and international stage—and we found it. The university’s space research reaches across disciplines and had just the wow-factor that we needed. With the publication of “The Roadrunner’s Guide to the Galaxy” cover story, we were able to gain credibility as a major research player in Texas and achieve new opportunities for funding.

From the Judges

This entry had a collaborative approach, engaging faculty and students in the writing process. The layout and organization are well executed, making the story easy to follow. Round-up stories are always a challenge to organize and make engaging, and the team rose to the challenge with this one, ensuring that the magazine’s approach to storytelling effectively showcases UTSA’s research prominence. Engaging a diverse readership beyond alumni, the cover story successfully bridges technical research with broader audience appeal, highlighting UTSA’s achievements and enhancing its credibility.