For one Monmouth College student, years of academic achievement, campus involvement and service have turned into one of the state’s highest honors for college students, the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award.
Claire LaBadie ‘27 was selected as this year’s Monmouth College Lincoln Laureate, an honor recognizing an outstanding senior from each of the four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois. Student Laureates are recognized for their leadership and service and for their excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.
“It’s been very special because all of the Lincoln Laureates have been people that I’ve really looked up to as leaders,” said LaBadie. “Lillian Hucke was my orientation leader, and she had such a positive impact on me. Same thing with Lea Selquist. She was my accounting tutor and also someone I really looked up to. So, for these people to be someone that I really looked up to and then to get this award, has just been so impactful on me.”
Throughout her time at Monmouth, LaBadie’s list of leadership opportunities has grown. From founding the BEAM club to serving as the president of ASAP to holding a director position in her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, she has continued to make her mark on Monmouth College. Her favorite role, though, is helping freshman students through their first year at Monmouth.
“Out of all of my positions on campus, being a [First-Year] Mentor has been my favorite one,” said Claire. “All of the upperclassmen and people in my life had such a big impact on how I saw Monmouth. Coming in my freshman year and seeing all of these mentors and all of these people that are so involved, that really inspired me and really led to me wanting to be like them.”
For LaBadie, the recognition is also a reflection of all the hard work and dedication she has put into her college experience.
“Winning this award has shown me, well, it’s kind of cheesy, but I can really do anything that I put my mind to. I really value hard work and dedication, and I knew coming into college that I really wanted to get involved,” said Claire.
That involvement has not only allowed LaBadie to take on leadership roles but also build relationships with the people around her. Through her various positions on campus, she has not only found ways to make an impact on Monmouth but also formed relationships that have become very important to her.
“Earning this award has just shown me that people on this campus really notice you; they appreciate when you’re working hard,” said LaBadie. “I got nominations from people who I wasn’t even that close with for this award, which just shows that they really notice you on this campus… Honestly, I learned so much from just being involved, managing my time, and working with people.”
The recognition also gives LaBadie the opportunity to speak at Monmouth’s scholarship competition and commencement ceremony this spring as well as attend a ceremony in October with the other Lincoln Laureates from across Illinois.
After being inspired by the student leaders who came before her, LaBadie will now have the opportunity to stand before the next generation of students as a Lincoln Laureate herself.
