Circle of Excellence Awards

Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year Award

Congratulations to the 2026 Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year winner!

Iowa Magazine food edition cover displaying a table full of food.

Iowa Magazine for University of Iowa Alumni and Friends

From the nomination: Iowa Magazine builds on the University of Iowa’s reputation as "the writing university," using the art of storytelling to keep alumni invested in the life of the university. Through exceptional writing and design, the magazine honors the university’s literary heritage, while making each issue accessible and fun. 

View the entry.

2026 Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year Finalists

The Lawrenceville School, The Lawrentian

Bryn Mawr School, Bloom: The Bryn Mawr School Admissions Magazine

The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Law Magazine

Kansas State University, K-State Donor Magazine

University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, Tippie Magazine 2025

Magazines eligible for the award have been published at least twice a year, and received a Gold or Grand Gold award in one of these Circle of Excellence categories:

  • Alumni/General Interest Magazines (Four-Year Colleges and Universities, Printed Twice a Year)
  • Alumni/General Interest Magazines (Four-Year Colleges and Universities, Printed Three+ Times a Year)
  • Alumni/General Interest Magazines (Independent and International Schools)
  • Alumni/General Interest Magazines (Targeted Audience)
  • Alumni/General Interest Magazines (Two-year Institutions)

The Man and the Award

1938 Magazines Judges

1938 Magazines Judges

The beginnings of the Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year award trace back to 1918 and the founding of Alumni Magazines Associated—a group of editors from 40 colleges and universities who came together to cooperatively solicit advertisers to fund their then fledgling publications. In 1927, this group became part of the American Alumni Council—a predecessor to CASE—and its purpose expanded to sharing best practices and rewarding innovative ideas among alumni magazines.

The first awards focusing on editorial excellence and achievement by alumni magazines were awarded by the American Alumni Council in 1929. More than 100 magazines competed for awards recognizing best editorial and best story on the achievement of an alumnus, among other topics. California Monthly—the predecessor publication to California, the alumni publication of the University of California, Berkley—took home top honors for articles about alumni. Robert Sibley was the editor of the winning publication.

After many years and awards for his work at California Monthly, Sibley went on to serve as editor of the American Alumni Council's journal. In 1943, Sibley initiated the magazine of the year award, which now bears his name, and remains the highest award for excellence in the field. 

Source-Alma Mater: Journal of the American Alumni Council, Number 27, May 1968

Robert Sibley

Robert Sibley

 

Previous Award Recipients

  • 2019 Wake Forest Magazine, Kerry King, editor 
  • 2018 HBS Alumni Bulletin, Tom Witkowski, editor
  • 2017 TCNJ Magazine, Renee Olson, editor
  • 2016 UofTMed, Heidi Singer, editor
  • 2015 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Dale Keiger, editor
  • 2014 Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin, Shawn Presley, editor
  • 2013 Harvard Medicine, Harvard University, Ann Marie Menting, editor
  • 2012 University of Chicago Magazine, Amy Puma, editor
  • 2011 Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin, Shawn Presley, editor
  • 2010 CAM, University of Cambridge, Mira Katbamna, editor
  • 2009 Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin, Shawn Presley, editor
  • 2008 Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Dartmouth College, Sean Plottner, editor
  • 2007 The Penn Stater, Penn State Alumni Association, Tina Hay, editor
  • 2006 Denison Magazine (Denison University), Paul Pegher, editor
  • 2005 Portland (University of Portland), Brian Doyle, editor
  • 2004 Harvard Medical Alumni Bulletin, Paula Byron, editor
  • 2003 Gravity (Columbia College Chicago), Norman Alexandroff, editor
  • 2002 Brown Alumni Magazine, Norman Boucher, editor
  • 2001 Carleton College Voice, Teresa Scalzo, editor
  • 2000 Stanford Magazine, Robert Cohn, former editor, Mark Robinson, acting editor
  • 1999 Cornell Alumni Magazine, David Gibson, editor
  • 1998 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Sue De Pasquale, editor
  • 1997 Cornell Alumni Magazine, David Gibson, editor
  • 1996 Stanford magazine, Robert Cohn, editor; Bruce Anderson, former editor
  • 1995 The Pennsylvania Gazette, Anthony Lyle, editor
  • 1994 Stanford Medicine, Don Gibbons, editor
  • 1993 Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Jay Heinrichs, editor
  • 1992 Stanford magazine, Bruce Anderson, editor
  • 1991 Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Jay Heinrichs, editor
  • 1990 Sallyport (Rice University), Suzanne Johnson, editor
  • 1989 Duke Magazine, Robert Bliwise, editor
  • 1988 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Alan Sea, editor
  • 1987 Harvard Magazine, John Bethell, editor
  • 1986 Duke Magazine, Robert Bliwise, editor
  • 1985 Technology Review (MIT), John Mattill, editor
  • 1984 Technology Review (MIT), John Mattill, editor
  • 1983 The Pennsylvania Gazette, Anthony Lyle, editor
  • 1982 Notre Dame Magazine, Ron Parent, editor
  • 1981 The Pennsylvania Gazette, Anthony Lyle, editor
  • 1980 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Elise Hancock, editor
  • 1979 Technology Review (MIT), John Mattill, editor
  • 1978 Notre Dame Magazine, Ron Parent, editor
  • 1977 Simmons Review, Dorothy Williams, editor
  • 1976 Brown Alumni Monthly, Robert Rhodes, editor
  • 1975 Harvard Magazine, John Bethell, editor
             Brown Alumni Monthly, Robert Rhodes, editor
  • 1974 Harvard Magazine, John Bethell, editor
  • 1973 Brown Alumni Magazine, Robert Rhodes, editor
  • 1972 Yale Alumni Monthly, William Zinsser, editor
  • 1971 Harvard Magazine, John Bethell, editor
  • 1970 Harvard Magazine, John Bethell, editor
  • 1969 Brown Alumni Monthly, Robert Reichley, editor
  • 1968 Yale Alumni Monthly, William Hamilton Jones, editor
  • 1967 California Monthly (UC Berkeley), Andrew Pierovich, editor
  • 1966 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Anthony Neville, editor
  • 1965 Columbia College Today, George Keller, editor
             Johns Hopkins Magazine, Anthony Neville, editor
  • 1964 Columbia College Today, George Keller, editor
  • 1963 Columbia College Today, George Keller, editor
  • 1962 Washington University Magazine, Frank O'Brien, editor
  • 1961 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Ronald Wolk, editor
  • 1960 The Emory Alumnus, Randolph Fort, editor
  • 1959 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Corbin Gwaltney, editor
  • 1958 Barnard Alumnae Magazine, Marian Poverman, editor
  • 1957 University of Chicago Magazine, Felicia Antonelli, editor
  • 1956 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Corbin Gwaltney, editor
  • 1955 Sooner Magazine (Univ. of Oklahoma), David Burr, editor
  • 1954 The New Hampshire Alumnus, Franklin Heald, editor
  • 1953 Princeton Alumni Weekly, Philip Quigg, editor
  • 1952 University of Chicago Magazine, Donald Morris, editor
  • 1951 Johns Hopkins Magazine, Corbin Gwaltney, editor
  • 1950 Vassar Alumnae Magazine, Constance Ellis, editor
  • 1949 Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Charles Widmayer, editor
  • 1948 Harvard Alumni Bulletin, William Bentinck Smith, editor
  • 1947 Lehigh Alumni Bulletin, Leonard Schick, editor
  • 1946 Rutgers Alumni Monthly, Elizabeth Durham, editor
  • 1945 Ohio State University Monthly, John Fullen, editor
  • 1944 Technology Review (MIT), Frederick Fassett, Jr., editor
  • 1943 Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Sidney C. Hayward, editor