Ward honored as Lincoln Laureate

Left to right, Marlene Dietz, Lincoln Laureate Wesley Ward, and President Larry Dietz.

Illinois State University’s Wesley Ward of Normal has been named one of this year’s outstanding college students by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

The Lincoln Academy’s Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Awards are presented for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to seniors from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois. The Academy recognized students during the annual Student Laureate Convocation in November.

Lincoln Laureate Wes Ward in front of the old State Capitol in Springfield.

Ward is a senior finance and political science double major. An honors student and the 2016-2017 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Ward is the recipient of the Bone Scholarship, the most prestigious university-wide honor bestowed on undergraduate students. He also won the 2016 Honors Contract Contest through his work and report on the financial and economic workings in the world, and more specifically Latin America, during the Cold War era.

As a walk-on member of the Illinois State cross country and track and field teams, Ward is also a self-taught videographer and editor. He volunteers with several community agencies and events, including the University’s Honors Council, Student Athlete Advisory Council, Illinois Sierra Club, and College of Business Week, and he serves as the environmental committee chair for the College Democrats.

Ward also works with The Indy News newspaper as the vice president/web administrator, and serves as an intern for the Illinois State Athletics marketing department.

For additional information on the Lincoln Laureate program, contact Illinois State’s Director of Assessment & Engagement Initiatives Erin Thomas at (309) 438-5451.