2025 LINCOLN LAUREATES

Bonnie Blair

Sandra Cisneros

Jeanne Gang

Janice K. Jackson, EdD

Carol Marin

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.
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