SPRINGFIELD – The top students representing Illinois’ colleges and universities will be honored during special ceremony hosted by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois at 4 p.m. Saturday, November 4 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in downtown Springfield.
The 49th annual Lincoln Academy Student Laureate program will recognize excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by seniors from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois. Each fall, The Lincoln Academy presents an outstanding senior from each of these institutions with the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award.
The program will include welcoming remarks by the Honorable Ron Spears, the Academy Chancellor. Each Student Laureate will receive the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award certificate signed by Spears and the President of The Lincoln Academy, Governor J.B. Pritzker; a Lincoln medallion; a challenge coin; and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy. Student Laureates are selected by their individual schools. Those to be honored as Class of 2023 Student Laureates include:
Institution, Student Laureate, Home Town
Augustana College, Rachel Nandelenga, Cary, IL
Aurora University, Mason A. Brauer, Oswego, IL
Benedictine University, Ayesha A. Moosani, Glendale Heights, IL
Blackburn College, Aryanna Harris, Springfield, IL
Bradley University, Brigette A. McCormick, Alma, MO
Chicago State University, Tereshia J. Weathers, Chicago, IL
Columbia College Chicago, Elizabeth B. Vasquez, Las Vegas, NV
Concordia University Chicago, Kate Johnson, Lincoln, NE
DePaul University, Magoli Garcia, San Antonio, TX
Dominican University, Bianca Leon, Minooka, IL
Eastern Illinois University, Anna J. Sipes, Charleston, IL
East-West University, Chris Jamison, Elyria, OH
Elmhurst University, Daizja Hollman, Oswego, IL
Eureka College, Hannah C. Cliff, Gibson City, IL
Governors State University, Laila Atra-Yassin, Manhattan, IL
Greenville University, Lucas D. Motsinger, Marion, IL
Illinois College, Shannon Engmann, Mt. Zion, IL
Illinois Institute of Technology, Alison F. Yurchak, Perkasie, PA
Illinois State University, Shariq M. Zaman, Bloomington, IL
Illinois Wesleyan University, Nora D. Robinson, Eureka, IL
Judson University, Erin R. Aubrey, Freeport, IL
Knox College, Angelica M. DeBenedictis, Elmhurst, IL
Lake Forest College, Hayley Headley, Jamaica
Lewis University, Morgan M. Jennings, Matteson, IL
Lincoln Christian University, Shayne I. Alcantara, Pekin, IL
Loyola University Chicago, Nathanal J. Caamoan, Miles, IL
McKendree University, Bradley L. Eston, Quincy, IL
Millikin University, Elyce M. Knudsen, Philo, IL
Monmouth College, Lillian Z. Hucke, Oquawka, IL
National Louis University, Nathan Cristea, Cicero, IL
North Central College, Erica L. Johnson, New Lenox, IL
North Park University, Isabella C. Santos, Chicago, IL
Northeastern Illinois University, Bianca D. Vives, Munelein, IL
Northern Illinois University, Merveille Muyizere, Batavia, IL
Northwestern University, Lily Ng, Evanston, IL
Principia College, Gloria Ishimwe, Kigali, Rwanda
Quincy University, Graci White, Carlinville, IL
Richard J. Daley College, David Lopez, Chicago, IL
Rockford University, Nor A. Alamery, Loves Park, IL
Roosevelt University, Elizabeth Valdivia, Chicago, IL
St. Xavier University, Cydni R. Washington-Bolden, Riverdale, IL
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Liberty Harris, Fayetteville, GA
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Alexis Hamon, Aviston, IL
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Hannah P. Sheahan, Troy, IL
Trinity Christian College, Matthew Huizenga, Grant Park, IL
University of Chicago, Amanda Chacon, Chicago, IL
University of Illinois Chicago, Abigail E. Pettineo, Elmhurst, IL
University of Illinois Springfield, Molly Harms, Springfield, IL
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Caren M. Morris, Park Forest, IL
University of St. Francis, Daniel S. Mclaurin, Alsip, IL
VanderCook College of Music, Amanda J. Siegert, Countryside, IL
Western Illinois University, Jordan W. Rouse, Macomb, IL
Wheaton College, Hannah M. Helinsky, Alma, WI
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 or The Lincoln Academy’s social media sites.