McGaughey’s photo of the “rainbow barn” just outside the village of Viola (IL), which was used as an advertisement piece for Midwestern Gothic.
Two WIU alumni are making headlines with their photography skills. Alison McGaughey, who earned a master’s degree in English in 2010, and Adam Sacasa, who received his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2009, both recently won awards for their photographs.
Midwestern Gothic, a literary journal, chose McGaughey’s photo of a barn located near Viola (IL) for use on a promotional postcard, in addition to posting it on their website and Facebook page.
Sacasa’s photo of Abby Roberts, 13, of Bentonville (AK), devouring a watermelon during the championship round of the watermelon eating contest at the Hope Watermelon Festival in Hope (AK) was published in the Aug. 11, 2012 issue of the Texarkana Gazette and was chosen as the Arkansas Associated Press division photo of the month winner for August.
McGaughey writes a blog, welcometoforgotonia.com, that revolves around some of the quirks associated with life in west central Illinois, which often features pictures taken in the area.
Sacasa had three photos he took as part of his photographer position with the Texarkana Gazette in Texarkana (AK) chosen by the Arkansas Associated Press division as photo of the month winners in August, September and November 2012.
Sacasa previously worked for the Western Courier, Macomb Eagle and McDonough County Voice, and he recently just accepted a new position with the South Florida Sun Sentinel in Ft. Lauderdale (FL).
Sacasa’s photo of a Texarkana (AK) fire fighter carrying a dog found in the front yard of a house fire and published in the Oct. 30, 2012 issue of the Texarkana Gazette, was chosen as the Arkansas Associated Press division photo of the month winner for October.
Sacasa’s photo, taken during Arkansas 68th Annual Four States Fair and published in the Sept. 19, 2012 issue of the Texarkana Gazette, was chosen as the Arkansas Associated Press division photo of the month winner for September.
