SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS (November 1, 2019) — The top students representing Illinois’ colleges and universities will be honored by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois during the annual Student Laureate Convocation at Saturday, 11AM, November 16, at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site in Springfield.
Each fall, an outstanding senior from each of the state’s four-year degree-granting colleges and universities and one student from the community colleges in Illinois is awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and thereby becomes a Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. In the spirit of Lincoln, Student Laureates are honored for their leadership and service in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.
Each student will be presented with a certificate of merit signed by the governor, a Lincoln medallion, and a $1,000 check.
This will be the 45th year The Lincoln Academy has celebrated students’ excellence in Illinois. Those to be honored as Student Laureates on November 16 include:
Institution Student Hometown
Augustana College, Nadia Ayensah, Cape Coast, Ghana
Aurora University, Khadeil Threlando Ergas, Bluffton, South Carolina
Benedictine University, Rebecca Weber, Tinley Park, IL
Bradley University, Rhome Apton, Libertyville, IL
College of DuPage, Amna Razi, Chicago, IL
Columbia College Chicago, Kierah Tarah Imani King, Hartford, CT
Concordia University Chicago, Abigail Catherine Deddens, Toledo, OH
DePaul University, Michaela Jane Milligan, Newark, OH
Dominican University, Maya Banks, Riverdale, IL
East-West University, Stephany C Starks, Downers Grove, IL
Eastern Illinois University, Lindy Jane Dokken, Rockford, IL
Elmhurst College, Emily M Marquez, Shiloh, IL
Eureka College, Paige Dobbyn
Governors State University, Amanda K Spayer, Bourbonnais, IL
Greenville University, Josiah Mohr, Brodhead, WI
Illinois College, Charlotte Jeanne Crofton, Springfield, IL
Illinois Institute of Technology, Avesha Anees, Burr Ridge, IL
Illinois State University, Radiance J Campbell, Bloomington, IL
Illinois Wesleyan University, Kayley Lyn Rettberg, Carol Stream, IL
Judson University, Anali Cisneros, Elgin, IL
Knox College, Sarah M Henderson, Denver, CO
Lake Forest College, Kgotla “Kotch” Mmopi, Gaborone, Botswana
Lewis University, Katarzyna Majchrowicz-Wolny, Orland Park, IL
Lincoln College, Alex Beck, Bloomington, IL
Lincoln Christian University, Jonah Christopher Steele, Zanesville, OH
Loyola University Chicago, Adrian de la Cruz, Hoffman Estates, IL
MacMurray College, Georgia Lynne Estoye Suau, Peoria, IL
McKendree University, Emily Murray Berry, O'Fallon, IL
Millikin University, Mikayla Marie Krieger, Zion, IL
Monmouth College, Hadley A Smithhisler, Valley City, ND
National Louis University, Nathan Kenyon, Chicago, IL
North Central College, Noah Daniel Cordoba, West Chicago, IL
North Park University, Lydia Ruth Vander Stelt, Grand Rapids. MI
Northeastern Illinois University, Miriam I. Varela, Chicago, IL
Northern Illinois University, Ian Joseph Pearson, Rockford, IL
Northwestern University, Lillian Guo, Naperville, IL
Olivet Nazarene University, Jonathan Gonzalez, Monee, IL
Principia College, Sophia-Annette Hathaway, South Pasadena, CA
Quincy University, Mary Teresa Argana, Festus, MO
Robert Morris University, Jessica Gonzalez, Chicago, IL
Rockford University, Nathan Neal Alldritt, Pecatonica, IL
Roosevelt University, Janessa Garcia, Chicago, IL
Saint Xavier University, Nancy A Lesnicki, Crestwood, IL
School of Art Inst. of Chicago, Haylie Jimenez, Rossville, GA
SIU Carbondale, Allison Meredith McMinn, Chatham, IL
SIU Edwardsville, Jessica J Hammel, Carlyle, IL
The University of Chicago, Shriram Chennakesavalu, Schaumburg, IL
Trinity Christian College, Indira Escalante, Hoffman Estates, IL
Trinity International University, Kristina Carol Olsen, DeKalb, IL
University of Illinois at Chicago, Leigha Elizabeth Sommer, Geneva, IL
University of Illinois Springfield, Melissa Van, Lincoln, IL
U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Elena M Wilson, Rockford, IL
University of St. Francis, Morayma Barron, Joliet, IL
VanderCook College of Music, Rachel Nesti, Geneva, IL
Western Illinois University, Mariah Caitlin Dicksen, Lockport, IL
Wheaton College, Michael Kitchen, Clifton, VA
College of DuPage, Amna Razi, Chicago, IL
In addition to honoring the state's Student Laureates, Illinois is unique in the United States in selecting present or former citizens who have made outstanding contributions toward the progress and betterment of humanity to be honored as Laureates of the Lincoln Academy and receive the “Order of Lincoln” from the Governor, a process that has been in place since 1964.
Proceeds from the spring Laureate Convocation are used to support the Student Laureate program each fall.
For more information visit www.TheLincolnAcademyofIllinois.org.
