The Lincoln Academy of Illinois

Loss of Lincoln Laureate Ryne Sandberg

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lincoln Laureate and Rector for Sports Ryne Sandberg.

The Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Cubs second baseman received The Order of Lincoln in 2017 and served as Rector for Sports for the past 7 years.

The incredibly talented Cubs second baseman was named to the All-Star team 10 years in a row and won 9 straight Gold Glove awards. Over 16 seasons, Sandberg crushed 282 home runs, 277 of which were as a second baseman, then a Major League record. He hit 25+ homers five times and stole 30+ bases five times.

Sandberg bravely battled cancer the last two years. He was 65.

Sandberg was an outstanding supporter of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and was a distinguished Illinoisan who truly represented the best of humanity. He will be greatly missed by all and we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Margaret and the entire Sandberg family.

 

Listen to the podcast episode released in September 2021 featuring Lincoln Laureate Ryne Sandberg:

50th Anniversary of Student Laureates Program

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Student Laureate program, past and current student laureates from all years — 1975 through 2024 joined Regents and Trustees of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois for a special luncheon on July 12, 2025, on the campus of the University of Chicago. People traveled from both coasts and in between. There was a wonderful discussion where past Student Laureates shared what it meant when they received the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement award and how it impacted their life. The discussion then moved to how they would like to be involved in the Lincoln Academy going forward. Some terrific ideas were generated in breakout groups and presented to the group as a whole with Regents and Trustees in attendance. The Lincoln Academy of Illinois will be following up with action.

 

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A gallery of photos from the day can be viewed through the Photo Gallery button.

2025 LINCOLN LAUREATES

Bonnie-Blair-cool

Bonnie Blair

Untitled design (47)

Sandra Cisneros

Jeanne Gang

Jeanne Gang

Janice K. Jackson

Janice K. Jackson, EdD

Carol Marin

Carol Marin

Julieanna L. Richardson

Julieanna L. Richardson

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker presented the State of Illinois' highest civilian honor, The Order of Lincoln to six highly accomplished individuals on May 3, 2025.

  • Bonnie Blair, the first American female athlete to win five gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games. She competed in the 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1994 Olympics in speed skating.
  • Sandra Cisneros, celebrated poet, short story writer, novelist, and essayist whose work explores the lives of the working-class. Her numerous awards include MacArthur Genius, National Medal of Arts, and four honorary degrees.
  • Architect Jeanne Gang, founding partner of international architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang. She is recognized for the Aqua Tower, the tallest woman-designed building in the world at the time of its completion, now surpassed by the 101-story St. Regis Chicago, also of her design.
  • Chicago native Janice K. Jackson, EdD, then-CEO of Hope Chicago and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the first CPS alum to serve in that role. She also founded and led two Chicago public high schools.
  • Carol Marin, esteemed journalist and Emmy Award-winning reporter. She was a news anchor at WMAQ-TV, correspondent and investigative reporter for 60 Minutes and the Evening News with Dan Rather, and now is co-director of the Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence at DePaul University.
  • Julieanna L. Richardson, founder and president of The History Makers, the largest oral and video archive of profiles of 20th and 21st century African-American leaders across all sectors.

The formal ceremony was held at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Champaign, followed by a celebratory reception and dinner.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE

A LINCOLN LAUREATE

Becoming a Lincoln Laureate is a prestigious honor conferred by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. It celebrates outstanding individuals across diverse domains. Named in homage to Abraham Lincoln, the award acknowledges remarkable contributions made by individuals within the state, upholding the legacy of excellence and service.

OUR IMPACT

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STUDENT LAUREATES

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LINCOLN LAUREATES

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HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
WHAT IS THE

ORDER OF LINCOLN?

The Order of Lincoln was established in 1964 by Proclamation of Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr., to honor individuals whose contributions to the betterment of humanity have been accomplished in Illinois, or, whose achievements have brought honor to the state because of their identity with it, whether by birth or residence, or whose dedication to the principles of public service inspire all Illinoisans to respond to what Lincoln called 'the better angels of our nature'.

Each honoree receives a warrant signed by the Governor and bearing the Great Seal of the State of Illinois, certifying his or her investiture as a Laureate of the Order of Lincoln.

 

 

To ensure that no political connotation should surround the award, an independent, non-partisan entity was established to administer the program. Thus, the Order of Lincoln and the Lincoln Academy (based respectively upon the French Legion of Honor and the French Academy) of Illinois were established, with Michael Butler, the Academy's first chancellor, as its primary architect.

In 1989, as part of the Academy's twenty-fifth anniversary, Governor James R. Thompson declared the Order of Lincoln to be 'the state's highest award' and every Illinois Governor since then has so described it.

WHAT IS THE

ORDER OF LINCOLN?

The Order of Lincoln was established in 1964 by Proclamation of Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr., to honor individuals whose contributions to the betterment of humanity have been accomplished in Illinois, or, whose achievements have brought honor to the state because of their identity with it, whether by birth or residence, or whose dedication to the principles of public service inspire all Illinoisans to respond to what Lincoln called 'the better angels of our nature'.

To ensure that no political connotation should surround the award, an independent, non-partisan entity was established to administer the program. Thus, the Order of Lincoln and the Lincoln Academy (based respectively upon the French Legion of Honor and the French Academy) were established, with Michael Butler, the Academy's first chancellor, as its primary architect.

In 1989, as part of the Academy's twenty-fifth anniversary, Governor James R. Thompson declared the Order of Lincoln to be 'the state's highest award' and every Illinois Governor since then has so described it.

Each honoree receives a warrant signed by the Governor and bearing the Great Seal of the State of Illinois, certifying his or her investiture as a Laureate of the Order of Lincoln.

The insignia of the Order of Lincoln is a variant of the Maltese cross (with ten points rather than eight) - a white-enameled, red-bordered Maltese asterisk. The obverse displays the Arms of the State of Illinois encircled by the inscription 'Palmam Qui Meruit, Ferat' ('Let him who merits bear the palm' - words from Horatio Viscount Nelson). The center is supported by cross pieces of perforated gold, encircled by leaves of violet. The reverse central disc features the likeness of President Lincoln in gold and on a gold ground, encircled by the inscription 'The Lincoln Academy MCMLXV'. The cross is suspended by an oval circlet of green and gold enameled oak leaves and is suspended from a ribbon in the colors of the state's symbols: red for the state bird, the cardinal; violet for the state flower; and green for the state tree, the oak.

OUR HISTORY

1964

The Lincoln Academy is founded by proclamation of the Governor of Illinois.

1965

The first Convocation and Investiture of Lincoln Laureates is held on Lincoln's birthday at the Chicago Historical Society. The Governor's Reception and the Lincoln Ball held immediately following.

1975

The mission of the Lincoln Academy is expanded with the formation of the Student Laureate Program, presenting the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement award to outstanding seniors throughout the state of Illinois.

Laureate Michael Krzyzewski ("Coach K")

Michael Krzyzewski ("Coach K") was the head men's basketball coach at Duke University. Under his leadership the Blue Devils have won 13 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championships, qualified for 11 NCAA Final Fours, and won four National Championships. He also coached the United States Men's Basketball team to gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

In 2006, he opened the Emily Krzyzewski Center in honor of his late mother - where he serves as Chair of the Board. In addition to his work with the Emily Krzyzewski Center, he and his wife, Mickie, also have been active in fundraising and support of the Duke Children's Hospital, the Children's Miracle Network, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Laureate Michael Krzyzewski ("Coach K")

Michael Krzyzewski ("Coach K") was the head men's basketball coach at Duke University. Under his leadership the Blue Devils have won 13 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championships, qualified for 11 NCAA Final Fours, and won four National Championships. He also coached the United States Men's Basketball team to gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

In 2006, he opened the Emily Krzyzewski Center in honor of his late mother - where he serves as Chair of the Board. In addition to his work with the Emily Krzyzewski Center, he and his wife, Mickie, also have been active in fundraising and support of the Duke Children's Hospital, the Children's Miracle Network, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

THE LINCOLN LAUREATES PODCAST

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