Luke C. Madden has been named one of this year’s outstanding college students by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.  

Madden, a senior from Carol Stream, Illinois, was selected to receive the Illinois State University Student Laureate Award from The Lincoln Academy of Illinois due to his overall success as an engaged student, active citizen, and scholar. 

Madden will graduate with honors from Illinois State University in May of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry teacher education, and a minor in Spanish. Madden is a University Scholar, POLYED Award winner in organic chemistry, and recipient of the Sol Shulman Scholarship.  

three people stand around Lincoln Laureat certificate
From right to left, President Terri Goss Kinzy, Luke Madden, and Madden’s father, Jeff Madden, at the conferring of the Lincoln Laureate medal in 2022.

Earlier this year, Madden received the most prestigious university-wide honor bestowed on undergraduate students, the Bone Scholarship, named in honor of the late Robert G. Bone, president of Illinois State University from 1956-1967. This award is presented to undergraduate students who combine excellent academic achievement and community engagement activities on and off-campus with exceptional qualities of character and leadership. The competition for this scholarship is rigorous and Madden was one of the few students to receive this award for the 2021-2022 academic year. 

Along with excellent scholarship, Madden is known as a dynamic leader on and off campus, working as an undergraduate teaching assistant and tutor for the Department of Chemistry and the STEM Alliance. Madden is the current president of the department’s Chemistry Club, which supports chemistry students in research activities, social events, and community service. Madden’s service includes his presidency of Kappa Delta Epilson and the University Scholarship Association. An Eagle Scout, Madden is an adult advisor for the Boy Scouts.