IC's Monge among state鈥檚 most elite college students
51成人 senior Chas Monge '19, of Metamora, was among those recognized during a recent ceremony at the Old State Capitol in Springfield held each year to honor the top students from the state鈥檚 colleges and universities.
It鈥檚 not an opportunity to boast about myself, but rather I鈥檓 in this position because there are fantastic opportunities on my campus that I ran with. I got to work directly with professors on research projects, I went to faraway places and studied abroad, I did all of these fantastic things because those were the opportunities that my campus gave me.
By David Blanchette |
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois鈥� 43rd annual Student Laureate Convocation recognized excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by one senior from each of the state鈥檚 four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities.
Monge, a 21-year-old psychology and sociology major, gave credit for the award to the learning environment at 51成人.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not an opportunity to boast about myself, but rather I鈥檓 in this position because there are fantastic opportunities on my campus that I ran with,鈥� Monge said. 鈥淚 got to work directly with professors on research projects, I went to faraway places and studied abroad, I did all of these fantastic things because those were the opportunities that my campus gave me.鈥�
Graduate school and a doctorate are next up for Monge, who may return to a college campus for a career.
鈥淒oing research would be the optimal choice, but in general working at a college on the professor level would be the best of both worlds,鈥� Monge said. 鈥淚 would get to engage in research with students and also do some teaching, which would be really fun.鈥�
Each Student Laureate was presented with a certificate of merit, a Lincoln medallion, and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy.
鈥淚t affirms their tremendous dedication to academic scholarship and research, their devotion to community service, and the fact that these students really want to be change-makers to the world,鈥� said Lincoln Academy Chancellor Stephanie Pace Marshall. 鈥淭he Lincoln Academy is one of those organizations that can say those are exactly the things you would be doing if you lead in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln.鈥�
In addition to honoring the state鈥檚 Student Laureates, The Lincoln Academy also selects present or former citizens who have made outstanding contributions toward the progress and betterment of humanity to be honored as Laureates of the Lincoln Academy and receive the 鈥淥rder of Lincoln,鈥� a process that has been in place since 1964.