Leadership that Inspires and Transforms
“…let us confidently hope that all will yet be well.”
-Abraham Lincoln
Come to Springfield, Illinois and visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
INTRODUCTION OF the 56th and 57th CONVOCATIONS:
- The 56th Convocation will be on the ISU campus on June 19, 2021. This year’s recipients are: Doug Collins, Robert Fraley, and Donald McHenry. Press Release →
- The 57th Convocation will be in Chicago at the History Museum on November 6, 2021. The Laureates to be honored are Captain Scott Altman, Carol Ross Barney, Major General John Borling, John Andrew McQuown, Dr. John Rogers, Tommy Shimoda, Dr. Joanne Smith, and Mavis Staples.
- Please consider joining us →
Excellence. Service. Honor.
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois partners with donors, members, and regents to advance the values exhibited in the life of Abraham Lincoln: Excellence, service, and honor.
We are committed to programs that:
- Honor distinguished Illinoisans’ contributions to society;
- Encourage public service; and
- Invest in developing principled leadership for the future.
We can all play a role in encouraging leadership in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln through the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.
Invest in leadership, in excellence, in the future of Illinois. Join us →
News
Our deepest sympathies to the family of Richard Driehaus
Podcast, Laureate Sheila Crump Johnson
“The Lincoln Laureates” Podcast Set to Launch on Lincoln’s Birthday!
Lincoln Scholar Jonathon White
Congratulations to Laureate Mellody Hobson, named to Chair Starbucks Board
November 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees
Class of 2020 Student Laureates Press Release
“The Lincoln Laureates” Podcast
UPCOMING
2020 LAUREATE CONVOCATION
May 29, 2021
Normal, IL on the campus of Illinois State University
– Civic Committee Chairs Mrs. Marlene & President Larry Dietz
Read the 2020 announcement →
Frank Clark, Chancellor, and The Honorable Jay Robert “J.B.” Pritzker, President of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois
MISSION STATEMENT
To honor individuals whose outstanding contributions to the betterment of mankind have been accomplished in or on behalf of the State of Illinois, or whose achievements have brought honor to the State because of their identity with it, whether by birth or residence, or by their dedication to those principles of democracy and humanity as exemplified by the great Illinoisan whose name we bear. These individuals, reflective of the diverse populace of the State of Illinois, are named Laureates of the Academy and receive the “Order of Lincoln,” the State of Illinois’ highest award, at an annual Convocation.
To honor one outstanding senior from each of the four year not-for-profit degree granting institutions and one outstanding senior from among all of the community college students who, in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, demonstrated leadership and service in his or her campus or community and excellence in curricular and co-curricular programs, to be named Student Laureates and receive the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and the Lincoln Medallion.
We continue our celebration of #WomenHistoryMonth with Carol Fox, the first female to be inducted as a Lincoln Laureate. Fox was inducted during the Second Convocation in 1966.
Credited with restoring Chicago's pre-Depression operatic glory, Carol Fox stood out among opera impresarios of the time. In 1954, when Fox was just 28 years old, the Chicago native co-founded The Lyric Theatre of Chicago with Lawrence V. Kelly and Nicola Rescigno. Facing an unsolvable rift with her cofounders, Fox took control of the company in 1956, renaming it Lyric Opera of Chicago. She was general manager from 1956 until 1980 - passing away the year afterward.
When Fox proclaimed, "I have very simple tastes—I only want the best," she wasn't joking. She brought innumerable distinguished singers, conductors, and directors to the company. Having begun as a singer herself, Fox put Lyric on the map by creating associations with some of the greatest artists of the day, from Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi to Joan Sutherland, Birgit Nilsson, Jon Vickers, and Nicolai Ghiaurov, many of whom made their American debuts at Lyric.
Why is Shiela Crump Johnson's favorite currency the penny?
Find out the answer to that and why Mrs. Johnson (the first African American woman to attain a net worth of $1 billion dollars) says great leaders are like violin players in this special #WomenHistoryMonth episode of the Lincoln Laureates podcast available to listen to now.
Our guest host for this episode is award-winning broadcast journalist, Ron.
Sheila C. Johnson - The Art of Leadership | The Lincoln Laureates
the-lincoln-laureates.simplecast.com
For Sheila C. Johnson, leading is orchestral. As she describes, great leaders are like violin players. You must listen and perform both alternately and simultaneously. In this episode, you'll learn th...
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois is saddened to pass along the news of the passing of 2017 Lincoln Laureate Inductee, Richard Driehaus.
Richard Driehaus’ extraordinary success in the investment management industry fueled his transformational philanthropic gifts in the built environment, education, arts and culture, investigative journalism, and economic opportunity for the working poor. His philanthropy was been guided by a philosophy that giving back to society makes for a fuller life, viewing philanthropy as a form of inquiry; a way of learning about the world. According to Mr. Driehaus, "Like investing, it requires strategic thinking, innovation and tolerance of risk. Failures can be as important as successes."
Driehaus received his BA and MBA from DePaul University - the business school would later bestow his name and become the Richard H. Driehaus College of Business. In 2000, he was named to Barron’s magazine’s “All-Century” team of 25 individuals identified as the most influential within the mutual fund industry over the past 100 years.
We offer our condolences to Richard's family and friends. His legacy and impact will certainly live on forever.
Funds raised at the Academy’s Order of Lincoln Convocation help provide the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement awards and the ‘Lincoln Medallion’ which will be presented by the Academy’s President to each of 57 Student Laureates at a separate ceremony held in Springfield later this year.
Thus, the Lincoln Academy honors the Great Citizens of Today and Celebrates the Great Citizens of Tomorrow — knowing that now, as always, our state and nation need what Vachel Lindsay called ‘Lincoln-hearted’ men and women.
Mr. Lincoln would be proud.