Five Illinois universities made the top 100 and three others made the top 200 in the annual ranking of U.S. colleges and universities by U.S. News and World Report.

The rankings released Monday reveal the top colleges in the country for 2019.

University of Chicago tied for third with Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Yale. Northwestern jumped up a spot from last year’s ranking to the no.10 slot.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign cracked the top 50 and was ranked the 46^th best university in the country.

Other Illinois universities that landed in the top 100 list include Loyola University Chicago tied for 89^th and the Illinois Institute of Technology tied 96^th.

DePaul University came in 119^th and the University of Illinois Chicago was ranked 129^th. Illinois State University placed 171^st.

The ranking included nearly 1,400 institutions, which report data through an annual survey. The schools were evaluated on 16 metrics aimed at measuring academic excellence, according to US News and World Report. The criteria included class size, average spending per student on areas like instruction and student services and the number of retaining and graduating students. 

In honor of #ReadABookDay, check out these fictional stories set in the Land of Lincoln:

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1855)
By Mark Twain

Huckleberry Finn, a young teenager, travels along the Mississippi River through Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas on a raft with Jim, who is escaping slavery. Huck’s father Pap lives in the woods on the Illinois side of the Mississippi.

The House on Mango Street (1984)
By Sandra Cisneros

“The House on Mango Street” is coming-of-age novel and tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina girl, and her life growing up in Chicago with Chicanos and Puerto Ricans.

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) opened on Aug. 31 at their new location at the heart of the city – near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive – featuring everything architecture in Chicago through tours, programs and exhibitions.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also proclaimed the date as Chicago Architecture Date as a part of the center’s weekend-long grand opening celebration.

The new center, made possible through $12 million in private funding, boasts a lecture hall, hands-on design workshops, classrooms and a gift shop stocked with a wide array of design books and home décor.

Formerly known as the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the center moved from its previous home at the Railway Exchange Building. Its new home is at the base of Mies can der Rohe’s 1970 Illinois Center office complex.

National Dog Day is a day that celebrates all breeds, pure and mixed, and is meant to remind the public of the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year from shelters and rescues.

This national day was created in 2004 by Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist who wanted to show appreciation for all dogs and to honor those who work in the community to help save lives, keeping us safe and out of harm’s way.

There are many ways to celebrate this holiday with your furry friend. You can take them to the dog park to play with other dogs, buy them a new toy or take them to the dog spa for a day of relaxation. If you aren’t a dog owner, you can still celebrate by volunteering at your local shelter and taking some of the dogs on walks or assisting with cleaning the animal’s cages.

If you do not get to spend as much time as you would like with your animal companion, take this day to reconnect with your furry family member. Be sure to also consider ways you can help animals in our society and remember the importance of dogs in our lives.

For more information on how you can help dogs in Illinois Click Here

Gina Perillo is the August Artist of the Month. Perillo lives in Washington, Illinois. That’s also where she runs Perillo Art Studio. Perillo is a painter who mainly uses acrylic paint.

How long have you been an artist or when did you start? Was there a single incident or moment when you realized this was your passion? If so, tell us about it.

I have always had a love for art ever since I was little. I received my bachelor’s in Art Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and during my junior year I took a mixed media painting class. During this class I learned how to create abstract pieces - this was the moment I truly fell in love with painting and knew I wanted to pursue a career as an artist.

Illinois has been factored into your work in the past. What does being able to live and work in Illinois mean to you?

I love being close to Chicago and having access to such wonderful galleries and of course the Art Institute of Chicago.

What opportunities does Illinois present for local artists?

Art galleries, art festivals, and communities who support their local artists are some of the best opportunities in Illinois.

What do you like about Illinois?

I paint a lot of seascapes, but I LOVE Illinois corn fields! The farm land is beautiful.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Acrylic is my medium of choice. I use it for all of my pieces. I like that it dries quickly, and I am able to layer easily.

Where can people view and purchase your work?

People can view or purchase my work on my personal websites www.GinaPerillo.com and www.GPerillo.Etsy.com. I am also on Houzz.

What artist inspires you and why?

I could make a long list of well-known artists who have inspired me... Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Klimt… The list goes on and on. With that being said, I do feel I am also inspired by many fellow artists. Artists who are juggling life as a parent/spouse and making a living doing what they love. I enjoy following other artists’ Instagram accounts and being able to relate.