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 the Lincoln Academy of Illinois celebrates MLK Jr. The four pillars on which the Lincoln Academy is built upon - Integrity, Courage, Honesty, and Empathy - are exemplified by Dr. King.
Our final Student Laureate Spotlight from the 2021 class is Laura Keenan from Augustana College - Illinois. Keenan graduated with degrees in Communication Studies and Graphic Design. She currently works as a marketing and creative strategist for Republic Companies in the Quad Cities.
During her time at Augustana, Keenan was the president of the Augustana Art Collective and ADs (Advertising Developers) where she led a team of ten students in the American Advertising Federation's National Student Advertising Competition. She also served on the Student Government Association board and was the winner of the Tredway Library Prize for First-Year Research.
In her Lincoln Legacy statement, Keenan writes:
"We often view great leaders as elite people who were born with special gifts and abilities that ordinary people like ourselves cannot attain. Or, we think they were really lucky in life and a great opportunity fell into their lap. Abraham Lincoln, however, reminds us that great leaders are simply ordinary people who wake up every day and choose to contribute to the greater good. They choose this, not for outside obligations, but because they desire within their hearts to do it. When we encounter a difficult situation, our decision-making should be guided by our inner desire to be compassionate, to consider everyone’s perspective, to stand up for what is right, and to share the truth, especially when it is difficult. It takes a great deal of courage to choose these principles. It is a daily, life-long commitment. But, Lincoln’s Leadership Legacy reminds us that leading from the heart—with courage, integrity, honesty, and empathy—is always possible, no matter the circumstances."
#StudentLaureate #AugustanaCollege
Please congratulate Gavin Withaeger, our 2021 Student Laureate representative from Aurora University. Withaeger received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently a Cardiac Intensive Care RN at Advocate Aurora Health in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
In addition to being on the Aurora University Cross Country and Track and Field teams, he was also a Resident Assistant, a Spartan Ambassador, and served in leadership roles on the Student Government and the University's Men in Nursing organization.
In his Lincoln legacy statement, Withaeger wrote:
"Lincoln was well-known for his commitment to unite a nation ravaged by conflicting ideologies. Some would even describe his leadership as an act of heroism, but I believe Lincoln would never describe himself this way. Lincoln, a man of humble beginnings, had committed himself to a life of honesty and justice.
In accordance with Lincoln’s philosophies, I do not believe exceptional abilities are what make someone a hero; more so it is the actions we choose daily. It is the unwavering desire to do what is right, despite the potential for what unfavorable outcomes may follow. As a nurse and active member of my community, I have committed myself to the healing and protection of all people. I plan to advocate for social justice and defend the basic rights for the people of the world."
#StudentLaureate #AuroraUniversity #Nursing
Very impressive! Congratulations Gavin!!!!!!
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.