Elmhurst College senior Emily Marquez has been named the College’s 2019 recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement and Student Laureate Award.

During a ceremony last month at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Marquez was among the top students representing Illinois’ colleges and universities to be honored with the award. In the spirit of the 16th U.S. president, student laureates are honored for their leadership and service in the betterment of humanity, and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities. Each student laureate receives a $1,000 Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, a Lincoln medallion and a certificate of merit signed by the governor.

“It’s an honor to be selected for this award for Elmhurst, and I’m excited to have people there recognize the work I’ve been doing,” said Marquez, a double major in English writing and communication studies, with a minor in intercultural studies. Raised in Shiloh, Ill., Marquez attended the ceremony with her parents and Professor Mary Kay Mulvaney, director of the Elmhurst College Honors Program, who nominated Marquez for the award.

“Emily reflects the values and legacy of Abraham Lincoln through her outstanding academic accomplishments, her conscientious and effective student leadership—within the Honors Program and across the entire campus—and her demonstrated commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment here at Elmhurst College,” Mulvaney said.

Besides her work in the Honors Program, Marquez studied sociology in Havana, Cuba. She belongs to a number of honor societies, including Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society, and is a recipient of the Elmhurst College Intercultural Studies Department 2019 Outstanding Student Service Award.

Outside the classroom, she has served in leadership positions for a number of student organizations, including Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Asian Club of Elmhurst, International Club and Union Board. She also has served her campus community as a mentor in EC Connection, a pre-orientation program for incoming first-year and transfer students from underserved groups; and as a member of the Housing and Residence Life Equity & Inclusion Committee.

“My undergraduate experience has sparked my interest in service and civic engagement, and Lincoln’s legacy continues to inspire my passion,” Marquez wrote in her application essay about Lincoln’s relevance today. “Aware of his efforts to understand his role in a greater system, I have sought opportunities to expand my understanding of the injustices in U.S. society and my place in the conversation.”

After graduating in the spring, Marquez plans to pursue a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs.