A Year in Review

Our top social media posts of 2020-21

Social media has the power to connect us all. No matter where we may be—whether on campus or across the world—all it takes is a few clicks to catch up with friends, family, and classmates all over the world.

Due to social distancing necessities of the COVID-19 pandemic, we turned even more this year to social media. More than ever, social media helped us stay in touch with our loved ones and create the community and normalcy we couldn't experience every day. It also helped us stay updated on the things that were most important to us and directly impacted our lives, such as what classes would look like in the fall.

So, we're not surprised while reflecting on the 2020-21 academic year to see the following posts rise to the top of our most viewed and liked posts of the year. From taking a look at our groundbreaking saliva-based COVID test to a historic basketball season, celebrating the beauty of campus to our amazing Class of 2021 graduates, we hope that you enjoy taking a look at our top social media moments of the 2020-2021 academic year.

And don't forget to follow us on your favorite platform to stay engaged with the College of LAS!
 

Facebook

Marty Burke appears on CNN
Marty Burke discusses COVID testing on CNN
UIUC's saliva-based COVID-19 test was indispensable in allowing us to stay together this year. So, it's no surprise that our top Facebook post of the year was Marty Burke—a professor of chemistry and one of the creators of the test—discussing the test on CNN.
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Students stand on the field
2017 Illinois Sights & Sounds throwback
Coming together as a class for the first time is a memorable moment for all new students. To celebrate the Class of 2021 and their inspiring four years at UIUC, we shared a photo of their freshmen convocation, where they made a Block I on the field of Memorial Stadium.
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Tina Horton plays the Altgeld Hall chimes
100th anniversary of the Altgeld Chimes
Few campus sounds are as iconic as hearing the Altgeld Chimes on the breeze. On October 30, 2020, the Chimes turned 100, and we celebrated with the Altgeld Chimes Centennial Concert, a celebration of the chimes featuring the Marching Illini and chimesmasters.
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Twitter

Four buildings on the Main Quad with autumn colors by them
Autumn colors on the Main Quad
Many of the buildings on the Main Quad fall within the College of LAS—we’re truly the heart of campus! That also means that our students, faculty, staff, and alumni adore seeing campus and college icons when they're most beautiful, such as in autumn hues.
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A screenshot from Illini Basketball shoot
Celebrating a historic season
It's safe to say one of the highlights of the 2020-21 academic year was our Every Day Guys! Going into March Madness and to celebrate our basketball team's historic season, we asked a dozen students to imitate their favorite Ayo shot.
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Three Lincoln Scholars
Class of 2021 Lincoln Scholars
We believe the power of innovation can change the world. For a decade, our Lincoln Scholars Initiative has opened doors to 110+ academically gifted students. We celebrated the Class of 2021 grads whose lives have been changed by this initiative.
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Instagram

Six grads in the Class of 2021
Class of 2021 graduate photos
To celebrate the Class of 2021 during convocation week, we shared photos our graduates tagged us in across our social media platforms. It's no surprise they were our most popular Instagram posts of the year—our grads are absolutely amazing!
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Grads stand in front of Altgeld Hall in regalia
New alumni listen to Hail to the Orange
Hail to the orange, hail to the blue—hail Alma Mater, ever so true (so true)! As grads gathered to take photos with Alma during graduation week, we captured a group of Illini taking in Hail to the Orange played on the Altgeld Chimes together one last time.
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A statistic that says UIUC is the #22 best university in the world
Looking for your sign to apply? This is it!
Deciding which university to attend is a difficult decision...but it's much easier when you have a choice like UIUC! One of our most popular posts said why students should apply to U of I, such as being one of the best universities in the world.
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LinkedIn

A student cuddles with her dog on the Main Quad
Celebrating Earth Day on campus
There’s no place like Illinois. We invited LAS students to celebrate Earth Day with us by sending photos of their favorite places on campus. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful sights, from the Arboretum to many beautiful quads.
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Students enjoy a spring day on the Main Quad
Enjoying a spring day on the Main Quad
Is there anything better than enjoying a spring day on campus? We don't think so! And neither do the people who enjoyed the photo we posted of students enjoying a day off soaking in some sunbeams on the Main Quad.
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A screenshot of a video celebrating whipped cream
A legacy of UIUC innovation
Did you know that canned whipped cream was invented at UIUC? Charles Getz perfected the sweet treat as an LAS chemistry grad student. We celebrated National Whipped Cream Day in style—by sharing a video of our favorite pie topping!
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