Leadership that Inspires and Transforms
Honoring the Great Citizens of Today.
Celebrating the Great Citizens for Tomorrow.
Student Laureates Inducted in 2022 via a pre-recorded congratulatory video
INTRODUCTION of the 58th CONVOCATION:
The 58th Convocation was conducted at the campus of Elmhurst University on Saturday, April 30, 2022.
The Laureates honored
William J. Brodsky, Debra Cafaro,
Rebecca Carlisle Doyle, John McCarter,
Martha C. Nussbaum, Justice Robert R. Thomas
We thank all of our sponsors and supporters.
Bill Plante and the Lincoln Laureates Podcast
by Matthew Lyle
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of legendary reporter Bill Plante’s passing. Plante spent 52 years as a correspondent for CBS News covering major historic events such as the arrival of U.S. troops in Vietnam, Martin Luther King Jr.’s march across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and the administrations of four U.S. presidents starting with Ronald Reagan. He passed away Wednesday at the age of 84 from respiratory failure.
Plante was kind enough to lend his talents to the Lincoln Laureate podcast series, interviewing fellow journalists George Will and Bill Kurtis. Those episodes can be listened to at the below links:
George Will, Son of the Prairie
Bill Kurtis, Service Through Truth
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
Newton Minow: The Public Interest Podcast
Ziegler native Dr. Nick Holonyak, Jr., 2005 Laureate, Passes Away at 93
Ramsey Lewis, 1997 Laureate, Passes Away at 87
Bernard Shaw, 2002 Laureate, Passes Away at 82
Maj. Gen. John Borling – Lincoln Laureates Podcast
Business Executive Frank Clark – Lincoln Laureates Podcast
2021 Student Laureates Announced
NBA Star Doug Collins – Lincoln Laureates Podcast
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Mourns the Passing of Joanne C. Smith, MD, President & CEO
MLB Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg – Lincoln Laureate Podcast
Educational Pioneer Stephanie Pace Marshall – Lincoln Laureate Podcast
“The Lincoln Laureates” Podcast
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.
Today's Student Laureate Spotlight features Jerimiah Boyd-Johnson from Eastern Illinois University. Boyd-Johnson, a native of Riverdale, Illinois, graduated in the spring with a major in political science and a minor in pre-law. He is currently in his first year of law school at the University of Miami School of Law.
While at EIU, Boyd-Johnson was the Vice President of the Black Student Union, a member of the EIU chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and was crowned 2021-2022 Homecoming King. Boyd-Johnson also participated on EIU's Forensic Team. He was a National Octafinalist in Poetry Speaking at the National Forensic Association competition and earned second-place co-recipient recognition in Booth Library’s “CSI Pitch Competition,” in which he delivered a proposal for EIU to join the State Department’s Diplomacy Lab program.
In his Lincoln legacy statement, Boyd-Johnson writes:
"Service is the foundation to creating a better society. If we want our community to be strong, we must be willing to contribute. My greatest hope is to continue to lift those who need help. To help yourself, you must assist someone else. I pledge to continue to help and contribute my leadership skills to any community who needs me."
#StudentLaureate #EIU #UMiami
Congratulations to Hannah Bacon from Elmhurst University. She is our Student Laureate Spotlight. Bacon graduated in the spring with degrees in political science and environmental studies. She currently works as a marketing coordinator for emersion DESIGN LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio.
While at Elmhurst, Bacon was the captain of Elmhurst University Women's Soccer team, president of the ElmU Greenjays sustainability club, and was the senator of sustainability for the Student Government Association. Bacon was also a head resident advisor and collaborated with faculty on research projects through the Creative and Scholarly Endeavors program.
In her legacy statement, Bacon writes:
"When I think of the life of Abraham Lincoln, I often think of the Greek term, atopos; something being out of place, strange, or unclassifiable. Beyond all of his presidential glory, Abraham Lincoln was not the most qualified on paper, was not the front-runner, and he rarely fit the social mold— “Atopos Abe”. I admire Lincoln’s unique intentionality, as he lead to learn. He surrounded himself with opposing viewpoints, absorbed all sides of the argument, and created a plan of action without demonizing others. This is both admirable and unheard of in our world of tribal, hyper-partisan politics. Counter to modern society, Lincoln did not grip an ideology or fight to preserve his ego. Rather, Lincoln choose to serve something beyond himself, the greater good of the nation, and fostered an environment of collaboration and unity along the way. I may not be responsible for the trajectory of the entire nation, but I hope to imitate a piece of Lincoln’s humble yet convicted spirit in all I do."
#StudentLaureate #ElmhurstUniversity #Lincoln
What a fun graphic/shout out! Thank you. It was such an honor to be included in the Lincoln Laureate ceremonies that Elmhurst University hosted, last spring. Still incredibly thankful. 🥰
so happy for you, Hannah! Keep working hard & let your light shine! 🌤
Congrats Hannah! You rock🤩❤️
Congrats Hannah
How awesome. Congratulations 🎊
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.