Student Leadership Recognition and Awards

Each Spring, the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership recognizes the dedication and creativity of outstanding student leaders and advisors for their contributions to the GovState community. The annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 12pm. The 2026 theme is Jaguar Rodeo.

Award recipients are recognized for their contributions to aspects of enhancing the campus environment, including work with student clubs and organizations, intercollegiate athletics, residential life, student senate, orientation programs, community service, civic engagement, and fraternity/sorority involvement. Nominations are accepted from students, staff, and faculty, including self-nominations unless otherwise stipulated in the award description Questions? Email us at getinvolved@govst.edu

GovState selects two graduating students to serve as commencement speakers for the Commencement Ceremonies in May. The commencement speaker provides inspirational words of encouragement for the graduating class.

Applications are accepted on the Jaguar Connection website. Submission dates have ended for the 2026 Commencement Ceremony.

Each fall, an outstanding senior from each of the degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois is awarded the Student Lincoln Academy Medallion and thereby becomes a Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Student Laureates are honored for their overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.

The Lincoln Laureate honors individuals whose contributions to the betterment of mankind have been accomplished in or on behalf of the State of Illinois, or, whose achievements have brought honor to the state because of their identity with it, whether by birth or residence or by their dedication to those principles of democracy and humanity as exemplified by the great Illinoisan whose name it bears. It is to honor senior students at each of the four-year, degree-granting institutions in Illinois for overall excellence, in both curricular and extra-curricular programs.

Applications and nominations are accepted from rising seniors each semester. Questions? Email getinvolved@govst.edu. 

Jonathan L. Cooper served as the 2025 Student Laureate representative for Governors State University. Congratulations, Jonathan!