As 14-year-old Maggee Bleyer watched the 2017 total solar eclipse from her home in rural southern Illinois, she felt a sense of awe combined with wonder for where she would be during the next eclipse seven years later. 

The moon and sun aligned to put Bleyer back in the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse, but this time, she was as focused on the eclipse’s spectators in Mount Carmel as she was on the sky. 

Bleyer, a senior journalism major, captured the April 8 eclipse in a roughly 2-minute package for TV-10, Illinois State University’s student television station. While the celestial event she covered was extraordinary, it was Bleyer’s work behind the camera that truly stood out. In November, she was awarded a college student Emmy for the piece she produced titled Small Town Eclipse.

“It was really hard to film,” Bleyer admitted. The challenges of shooting in such a unique environment where lighting changed rapidly and unpredictably tested her technical skills. 

Bleyer interviewed several spectators for her package, including folks who traveled from far away and local residents who simply stepped outside to watch the eclipse from one of the best full-totality locations in the country.  

“The sky was this halo, then a black hole, and then it was a night sky,” Bleyer said. “It was like a reverse sunset, then it was purple and orange and blue, and all the bugs freaked out.” 

Bleyer’s story showcased a diverse range of reactions from onlookers, as viewers experienced the dramatic moment when the sky darkened, and the sun was fully obscured by the moon. Her package highlighted the significance of the event not only as a rare celestial occurrence but also as a shared experience that brought people together from different walks of life.

For her exceptional work, Bleyer was awarded the Crystal Pillar in the General Assignment—Light News category during the 66th Annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards November 2 in Chicago’s Swissôtel.

“It’s always thrilling to see one of our students recognized by the profession,” said Jim Gee, TV-10’s news director and an instructor in the School of Communication, “especially recognition of someone so deserving. Maggee continues to hone her skills as an outstanding journalist and storyteller.” 

Bleyer was also named the recipient of the Bernstein Global Wealth Management Scholarship.

“It definitely gave me a confidence boost,” Bleyer said. “This is a very competitive field.”

Since winning the student Emmy award, Bleyer said she feels more certain about her technical abilities and the direction her journalism career can take. 

“I want to try to aim for bigger opportunities, just to see what will happen,” Bleyer said. “Thinking of that when I start looking for jobs is going to help me a lot.” 

For Bleyer, winning the student Emmy wasn’t just about receiving an award. It was about a journey that started with her first eclipse experience as a 14-year-old. 

“It was special because watching my package, it just kind of hit me,” Bleyer said, “like, wow, I’ve come a long way.”