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University Honors seeks nominations for Lincoln Laureate

August 16, 2021

An outstanding senior from each of the four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois is chosen every year to receive the prestigious Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award. Nominations are now open for departments to nominate a senior graduating from NIU during the 2021-2022 school year (August 2021, December 2021 or May 2022).

Andrea Radasanu, director of the University Honors Program

Lincoln Student Laureates are honored for their overall excellence in both curricular and cocurricular activities.

The Lincoln Laureate competition recognizes the incredibly hard work and impressive accomplishments of NIU’s top graduating students. I encourage departments to nominate students who stand out academically and in their involvement outside the classroom as well,” said Andrea Radasanu, director of the University Honors Program.

The NIU Student Laureate should have an NIU grade point average of 3.50 or higher and demonstrated excellence in cocurricular and extracurricular activities, which point to superior leadership skills.

The person selected will represent NIU at a special ceremony held in early November. Normally, this ceremony, along with a luncheon, is held in Springfield, Illinois, where Gov. J.B. Pritzker (or his designee) presents each Student Laureate with a Lincoln Academy medallion and a modest financial award. Plans for this fall have not been announced yet.

Past NIU Lincoln Laureates include:

All faculty are encouraged to put forward excellent nominees for consideration for departmental endorsement. For more information about the award and process, please visit the NIU Lincoln Laureate webpage. Students who meet the criteria may ask faculty members in their respective departments to consider nominating them.

Submit the electronic nomination form, including supporting departmental endorsement and faculty letter of recommendation, by noon on Sept. 10, 2021.

For more information, please email Jason Goode at jason@niu.edu.