Suburban college students named Lincoln Student Laureates

A dozen suburban college students are among 56 Lincoln Academy Student Laureates to be recognized for their leadership, service and overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities Saturday.

Each fall, an outstanding senior from each of the state's four-year colleges and universities and a student from Illinois community colleges is awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award.

Each student will be presented with a certificate of merit signed by the governor, a Lincoln medallion, and a $1,000 check during the annual Student Laureate Convocation at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site in Springfield.

It's the 45th year The Lincoln Academy of Illinois has celebrated students' excellence. This year's honorees include:

•Rhome Apton, of Libertyville, Bradley University

•Stephany Starks, of Downers Grove, East-West University

•Kayley Lyn Rettberg, of Carol Stream, Illinois Wesleyan University

•Anali Cisneros, of Elgin, Judson University

•Adrian De La Cruz, of Hoffman Estates, Loyola University Chicago

•Noah Daniel Cordoba, of West Chicago, North Central College

•Lillian Guo, of Naperville, Northwestern University

•Shriram Chennakesavalu, of Schaumburg, University of Chicago

•Indira Escalante, of Hoffman Estates, Trinity Christian College

•Leigha Elizabeth Sommer, of Geneva, University of Illinois at Chicago

•Rachel Nesti, of Geneva, VanderCook College of Music

•Amna Razi, of Chicago, College of DuPage

Proceeds from the spring convocation support the Student Laureate program each fall.

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois also confers current or former residents who have made outstanding contributions toward the progress and betterment of humanity with the "Order of Lincoln," the state's highest honor presented by the governor.

For more information, visit TheLincolnAcademyofIllinois.org.