Distinguished Alumni Award
Phil Ponce is the Alexandra and John Nichols Contributing Anchor of Chicago Tonight, having previously served as the show’s longtime primary host. Chicago Tonight is a nightly television magazine of news and culture on WTTW11, the most-watched PBS station in the country.
Ponce has conducted nightly interviews with newsmakers of all stripes, authors, and artists, and he’s moderated panels on topics ranging from business and medicine to the arts and education. His interview subjects have ranged from Barack Obama to Sesame Street’s Elmo. Additionally, Ponce has hosted town hall meetings and has conducted political debates for the presidency, U.S. Senate, Illinois governor, and Chicago mayor.