SPRINGFIELD -- As Illinois celebrates the 206^th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, Governor Bruce Rauner today announced this year's recipients of the Order of Lincoln, which is the state's highest honor for professional achievement and public service.

"This year's recipients of the Order of Lincoln have helped make Illinois and the world a better place," Gov. Rauner said. "The work they have accomplished is admirable, and it is our privilege to honor them. Mr. Lincoln would be proud."

This year's recipients are:

Arthur H. Bunn, CEO of Bunn-O-Matic Corporation

Bunn is a civic and philanthropic leader in Springfield; and a member of one of Illinois' pioneer families, whose great-great-grandfather opened a grocery store in Springfield 170 years ago, with Abraham Lincoln as one of his first customers.

Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme

Cousin heads the world's largest humanitarian organization, serving 97 million beneficiaries in 80 countries. "My mission is simple," she has said, "to end hunger in my lifetime."

J. Roland Folse, surgeon and founding chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Folse served on SIU-School of Medicine's faculty for more than 30 years, and the Folse Endowed Chair of Surgery has been established in his honor.

Sara Vaughn Gabbard, nationally recognized Lincoln Scholar and Executive Director of the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana

Gabbard, a native of Lincoln, is entrusted with a prized collection of Lincoln artifacts, and has devoted her professional career to increasing the nation's knowledge of Abraham Lincoln and the times in which he lived.

Gary Slutkin, Founder and Executive Director of Cure Violence

Dr. Slutkin's innovative program has worked to reduce shootings and killings, and Cure Violence now has 52 program sites in 23 U.S. cities and eight nations of the world. He is a professor of epidemiology and international health at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, where he seeks to treat violence as he would seek to reverse epidemic disease outbreaks.

W. Russell Withers, Jr., Broadcaster - Posthumous Honor

The award will also be presented posthumously to one of the last of a vanishing breed of broadcasting pioneers, the Founder of Withers Broadcasting Companies which operates six television stations and 30 radio stations in Illinois and across the Midwest. Prior to his death, Mr. Withers provided leadership to a wide range of civic, professional and charitable organizations including his chairmanship over many years of the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation.

The Order of Lincoln will be presented at the 51^st Annual Convocation of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois in the chamber of the Illinois House of Representatives in Springfield on Saturday, May 9, 2015. The Order of Lincoln was established by the Governor of Illinois in 1965, and the Lincoln Academy of Illinois -- an independent, non-partisan organization -- was created to administer the award and to choose the annual award recipients.

Following the award presentation on May 9, 2015 a gala reception and dinner in honor of the 2015 recipients will be held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. Funds raised at the dinner will be used to provide Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Scholarships to one student from each of the 56 four-year colleges and universities in Illinois and one student representing the state's community colleges. The students are chosen by their college presidents on the basis of academic achievement and community service.

The ceremony and short interviews with the honorees will be converted into a PBS documentary to be shown on all PBS stations across Illinois later in the year.

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L&D15 opens its second monthly art exhibit with Davenport art teacher David Houk. Bind is loosely tied together by family connections, paintings in the exhibit are steeped in memories of family and childhood.

"I try to express personal meaning through my paintings; it's easy to let doubt take over. My students continue to influence me. Their imagination, fearlessness and bold use of color inspire me every day. My family and friends help me shape how I view the world and are the driving force behind my artistic choices."

There will be a reception for David Houk on Saturday, February 14th starting at 7pm. Hors d'ouvres and drinks will be provided. The exhibition runs through March 15th.

"A part of this show is a tribute to my great grandfather. While reminiscing about my grandfather I was led to his old tackle box. These objects have special meaning to me. The lures, hooks and Copenhagen tin remind me of the times I spent with him. I wanted to give them a new purpose, be perceived in a new way and seen on a larger scale."

"In today's culture I have reservations about guns; they're controversial; however, painting guns is my way of showing my appreciation for my father."

Rounding out the show are portraits of my loved ones. The purpose was to capture their personality so I painted them from memory.

David Houk is an artist and art educator in Davenport, Iowa. He is a graduate of St. Ambrose University and has been teaching in the Davenport School District for 11 years.

L&D15 brings a new style of retail to the Quad Cities, featuring clothing, accessories and housewares created by local and international artists and designers. The store is located at 520 West 2nd Street in downtown Davenport. For more information, please visit http://

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/09/2015)(readMedia)-- Four of Augustana's choirs performed their annual winter concert on Saturday, February 7. Participating choirs included Cantilena Augustana, Kammarkor, Wennerberg Men's Chorus and Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble. The Webster Competition winners were also featured.

More than 100 students participated in the concert, including:

Chelsea Mentado of Moline, IL

Shannon Ryan of Moline, IL

Chelsea Crumbleholme of Moline, IL

Hannah Griggs of Bettendorf, IA

Jennifer Darby of Moline, IL

Leslie Carranza of Zion, IL

Andrew Skalak of Davenport, IA

Joseph Oliger of Davenport, IA

Liam Baldwin of Davenport, IA

Payton Brasher of Davenport, IA

Samantha Turner of Rock Island, IL

Taylor Anderson of East Moline, IL

Sydney Crumbleholme of Moline, IL

Brittany Middleton of Davenport, IA

Alecsus Sebben of Rock Island, IL

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 155 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/09/2015)(readMedia)-- The Augustana Jazz Ensemble performed its winter concert "Beyond Category" on Friday, February 5 in Centennial Hall. The concert featured the music of Duke Ellington, exactly as it was played by his orchestra. Selections included "Black and Tan Fantasy" and the "Peer Gynt Suite" as arranged by Billy Strayhorn.

Sixteen student musicians participated in the performance including:

Michael Daniels of Geneseo, IL

Benjamin McKay of Rock Island, IL

David Soliz of Silvis, IL

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 155 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.