Ledford receives campus teaching excellence award

Charles "Stretch" Ledford

Charles “Stretch” Ledford, associate professor of journalism, received the Illinois Student Government Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes instructors for outstanding performance both in and out of the classroom. Honorees have demonstrated a commitment to teaching and to students in every capacity of their experience at Illinois.

Ledford is a highly praised educator and critically acclaimed multimedia journalist. His experience in the field and continued excellence as a professional in the industry outside of the classroom enables him to provide students with a unique perspective that enhances their career development. Ledford is dedicated to building shared community—both in his creative endeavors and in his classroom. Students applaud him for his dedication to supporting student success in his courses and beyond.

Stretch with students
Ledford (pictured at left) used the Punkin Chunkin world championships as the subject matter to teach JOUR 215: Multimedia Reporting in Fall 2019. Students spent the semester developing print, audio, and video stories.