Above / The ceremony at Old State Capitol (the building that served Illinois’ political scene from 1839-1876) will recognize the top students from each college and university in Illinois.
Governor Bruce Rauner today announced this year’s outstanding college students who will be honored by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The Academy will recognize the following students during the annual Student Laureate Convocation at 11AM Sat., Nov. 7, at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.
“Civic engagement, as exemplified by President Lincoln, is crucial to our democracy and the process of our government,” said Governor Rauner. “The young men and women receiving this recognition today embody the spirit of President Lincoln through their hard work and dedication to their schools and communities.”
The Lincoln Academy’s Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Awards are presented for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to seniors from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois. At the Student Laureate Convocation, each student will receive a Student Laureate Medallion, along with a $1,000 educational grant and a certificate of achievement. This is the 41st year Lincoln Academy has celebrated students’ excellence in Illinois.
Student Laureate Cynthia J. Avila of the University of Chicago will speak on behalf of all the Laureates. The invocation will be delivered by Dr. Stanley R. Liberty, Interim President of Bradley University, and the benediction will be delivered by Eureka College President J. David Arnold. The Sangamon Woodwind Consort will provide music, and a luncheon at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel will follow the Student Laureate Convocation.
The Lincoln Academy, unique among the 50 states, was established more than 50 years ago to honor distinguished citizens with the state’s highest award, the Order of Lincoln.
The 52nd Annual Convocation and Investiture of Laureates of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois will take place Sat., May 7, 2016, at the historic Marriott Pere Marquette Hotel in Peoria.
Student Laureates
School Student Home Town
Augustana College Aubrey Waddick Algonquin, IL
Aurora University Sherry A. Maschmeyer Frankfort, IL
Benedictine University Dana V. Cairns Lombard, IL
Blackburn College Sarah Collman New Douglas, IL
Bradley University Kristin Kreher Smithton, IL
Columbia College – Chicago Lance T. Cox Rockford, IL
Concordia University Chicago Kayla E. Lohman Kirkwood, MO
DePaul University Nicole May Lemont, IL
Dominican University Cutberto Aguayo Chicago, IL
Eastern Illinois University Shirmeen Ahmad Romeoville, IL
East-West University Ghada M. Morrar Chicago, IL
Elmhurst College Angil J. Tate Atlanta, GA
Eureka College Michael A. Sain, II Reynoldsburg, OH
Governors State University Jerry Davis el Richton Park, IL
Greenville College Nathan Kriebel Brookston, IN
Illinois College Kavita K. Patel Princeton, IL
Illinois Institute of Technology Pooja Agarwal Chicago, IL
Illinois State University Maureen R. Christensen Normal, IL
Illinois Wesleyan University Nicole M. Jovicevice Des Plaines, IL
Judson University Ethan R. Adams Springfield, IL
Knox College Sophia D. Croll Cambridge, MA
Lake Forest College Benjamin Labaschin Northbrook, IL
Lewis University Jessica L. Tennant Burr Ridge, IL
Lincoln College Cody R. Garretson New Holland, IL
Loyola University Chicago Ashley Rogers Evergreen Park, IL
MacMurray College Shannon M. Young Carmel, IN
McKendree University Kenneth O’Dell Jr. Carlyle, IL
Millikin University Alexander H. Koulos Naperville, IL
Monmouth College Drake A. Decker Davenport, IA
National Louis University Jeanette Kyle Chicago, IL
North Central College Jack A. Ryan Oswego, IL
North Park University Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez Hanford, CA
Northeastern Illinois University Emily Fioramonti Chicago, IL
Northern Illinois University Kiranjit Gill Palatine, IL
Olivet Nazarene University Chelsea Risinger Tremont, IL
Principia College Shontee M. Pant Coppell, TX
Quincy University Catherine Richards Quincy, IL
Rock Valley College Matilyn N. Bindl Belvidere, IL
Rockford University Angela Martinez Rockford, IL
Roosevelt University Lacy N. Reyna Winterest, IA
St. Xavier University Anna E. Goldman Eagan, MN
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Florian Palluci Berwyn, IL
Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale Savannah L. McCord St. Louis, MO
Southern Illinois Univ. Edwardsville Joshua G. Pritsolas Glen Carbon, IL
The University of Chicago Cynthia J. Avila Chicago, IL
Trinity Christian College Halie A. Wisse Oostburg, WI
Trinity International University Richard J. Davis Arlington Heights, IL
University of Illinois Chicago Taylor R. Casino Champaign, IL
University of Illinois Springfield Hannah Cave Esmond, IL
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Monica S. Chen Buffalo Grove, IL
University of St. Francis Laura Muñoz Lopez Simpsonville, SC
VanderCook College of Music Kendall C. Jones Lake Villa, IL
Western Illinois University Hannah F. Drake Charleston, IL
Wheaton College Kyle L. Mellinger Ladera Ranch, CA
News released from the Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner
