Sociology major Jayden Wilburn-Johnson was selected as a 2024-2025 Robert G. Bone Scholar, and we could not be more proud! As department chair, I first met Jayden when he took the initiative to schedule a meeting with me as a freshman who had just declared sociology as his major.
I can say that in my six years as department chair, I have not had any student show such initiative and engagement as a first-year student. Jayden immediately impressed me with his genuine sense of curiosity and intellectual engagement, along with his deep enthusiasm for sociology. We talked for nearly 30 minutes about his interests and his future aspirations. He asked insightful questions about how to be successful in college and in our program and showed such a genuine appreciation for the opportunities of a higher education.
I continued to meet with Jayden on a regular basis to discuss his progress in our program and to also provide feedback on other opportunities he was pursuing. When Jayden entered his junior year, I was thrilled to learn that he took my advice and applied to become a Department of Sociology and Anthropology (SOA) student ambassador, where he currently serves in this role. As an SOA ambassador, Jayden attends various open house and preview events to talk with students about his experiences at Illinois State and to promote our academic programs. He also speaks in a variety of GenEd classes where we tend to recruit the vast majority of our majors. He has emerged as a leader among the SOA ambassadors, working to organize their activities and to suggest new and innovative opportunities for them to engage with more students.
Jayden has made a point of seeking opportunities for engagement and involvement across a diversity of campus sectors. For example, he has served as undergraduate teaching assistant (UTA) in one of our general education classes for several semesters, mentoring and tutoring other students in the class. He serves as a career ambassador with Career Services, working with students to help them to prepare for life after Illinois State. He has also served as a senator for the Student Government Association from 2022 to 2023 and as recruitment chair and student government representative for the Black Student Union during the same timeframe. Most notably, Jayden has been active in the Student Legislation Advocacy Coalition from 2022 to the present. In this role, he continues to serve as a lobbyist where he actively participated in lobbying efforts at the State Capitol to represent student needs and issues to state legislators.
In the midst of his significant civic engagement, Jayden also maintains a stellar academic record and prioritizes his academic pursuits. He has a 3.8 cumulative GPA and has been on the Dean’s List consistently since spring 2022. He participated in a study abroad program in the West Indies in spring 2023, expanding his knowledge and critical thinking skills with global perspectives on key social issues. His academic strengths and passion for civic engagement will serve him well as he moves toward his future goals of pursuing law school.
It is clear why Jayden was selected for this prestigious honor from a very accomplished and competitive pool of students. I’ve met few students as ethically and civically grounded as Jayden. Whatever his future studies or career, he wants to be on the front lines of addressing social problems. I have no doubt that he will excel in future scholarship and will become an impactful civic leader. I believe that Jayden most fully encompasses the spirit and intent of the Robert G. Bone Scholarship, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor, and we are proud to have him in our program.
