University News

Luke Named WIU 2014 Lincoln Laureate

October 29, 2014

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MACOMB, IL – Student athlete Ashley Luke, of Oak Creek, WI, has been named the Western Illinois University recipient of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois' Student Laureate Award for 2014.

The award, presented annually to an outstanding senior of each of Illinois' four-year degree-granting institutions, honors a student's overall academic excellence and extracurricular activities.

Luke is a senior political science and journalism double major and a member of WIU's women's basketball team. She will also be named the College Scholar for the WIU College of Arts and Sciences this semester and plans to pursue a master's degree in economics from Western.

"I am very honored to have been chosen as this year's Lincoln Laureate for WIU," Luke said. "I am grateful to both the staff and the students who helped me achieve this through their support and collaboration with me. I hope to represent WIU in a positive way through this award."

Luke is the president of the Associated Students of Political Science and Pi Sigma Alpha, the vice president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the founder of the WIU Athletic-International Ambassadors, the public relations director for the Gold Key International Honour Society, committee member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the student athlete representative of the WIU Council on Intercollegiate Athletics, political science student representative for "Discover Western," a member of Phi Eta Sigma and a volunteer for the McDonough County Humane Society, McDonough District Hospital, Rocky's Reach, Adopt-a-Classroom, "We Care" campus revival, Trick the Town and the Stuff the Bus food drive.

Athletically, Luke was also named the first Academic All-American in WIU women's basketball history and has been named the Summit League 2012-2013 Newcomer of the Year and all conference and has regularly been a leading scorer, rebounder and defender on the women's basketball team.

"This honor is a well-deserved recognition of Ashley's outstanding performance in the classroom and in extracurricular activities," said WIU political science Chair Keith Boeckelman. "She excels academically, on the basketball court and through her commitment to helping others."

Luke will be presented her Lincoln Laureate Award during an awards ceremony in Springfield Saturday, Nov. 1.

Each fall, a senior from each of Illinois' four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois is named the Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Student laureates are honored for their excellence in curricular and co-curricular activities.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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