University News

Drake Named 2015 WIU Lincoln Laureate

November 4, 2015

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University senior forensic chemistry major Hannah Drake, of Charleston, IL, has been named the University's recipient of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois' Student Laureate Award for 2015.

The award, presented annually to an outstanding senior of each of Illinois' four-year degree-granting institutions, honors a student's overall academic excellence and extracurricular activities.

Drake is a student in the University's Centennial Honors College and is also minoring in philosophy and mathematics.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to represent my University and my fellow students as this year's Lincoln Laureate for Western Illinois University," said Drake. "I want to thank all of the fantastic faculty and staff at WIU for their hard work, continued support and commitment to academic success on our campus; without them none of my accomplishments would have ever been possible. It is because of the outstanding faculty and staff that I am convinced that my decision to come to WIU for my education was the best decision I have ever made for myself and my future."

Drake will be presented with her award Saturday, Nov. 7 in Springfield.

She has served as the hall events coordinator for Tanner Hall, a principal harpist (the first in 32 years) for the WIU Orchestra, a founding senior research fellow for the President's Institute Think Tank, president of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry Club, founding secretary of the WIU Swing Dance Club, treasurer of the Blue Key International Honor Society, a freshman Honors resident assistant in Tanner Hall, the WIU Department of Chemistry representative to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council and the student representative to the CAS Faculty Council.

Drake has also been involved in many other organizations, including Women in Science, National Residence Hall Honorary, the Student Philosophy Association and the Math Club. Drake is one of the first people in her department to be awarded an ACS Chemistry Certification and she has won many awards during her time at WIU, including winning an honorable mention for the national Goldwater Award.

WIU has only had two previous Goldwater award or honorable mention winners and only 300 students nationally receive this award each year. Drake is the first female and first chemistry major from Western to ever win one.

In addition to all of her activities, Drake maintains a 4.0 grade point average at Western.

Each fall, one senior from each of Illinois' four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois is named the Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Student laureates are honored for their excellence in curricular and co-curricular activities.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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