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We are proud to support the eight Illinoisans who will be designated Laureates of the Lincoln Academy at the 54th Annual Spring Convocation and Investiture of Laureates of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, which will be held at the Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford on May 5, 2018. Recognized for their exceptional professional achievements and contributions to the betterment of humanity, they inspire all Illinoisans to respond to what Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.” They join only 340 Illinoisans honored over the last 54 years. This year’s recipients include two Rockfordians, acclaimed musician Emily Bear and industrialist/philanthropist Dave Rydell. The other recipients include:
- Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus
- YouTube co-founder Steven Chen
- Secretary for higher education for the Society of Jesus Father Michael J. Garanzini
- President of Ariel Investments Mellody Hobson
- President and CEO of Purina Mills Edward L. McMillan
- Leading diabetes researcher Louis H. Philipson, M.D., Ph.D.
On May 5, The Lincoln Academy will also honor our longtime partner, Tom Johnson, who was the Eighth Chancellor of the Academy (2010 – 2015), with a memorial concert that will include an original composition written by Laureate Emily Bear and performed by the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Miss Bear. For more information about Tom and this special dedication by The Lincoln Academy, click here. Visit The Lincoln Academy of Illinois for ticket information and other details.
[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”Biographical Details of the 2018 Laureates”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7827″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Emily Bear of Rockford, Illinois, at only 16 years of age has achieved groundbreaking success as a pianist, composer and songwriter. A chart-topping recording artist, she enjoys arranging, orchestrating, and performing in a diverse collection of styles including jazz, classical, film music and pop. Having made her professional debut at the Ravinia Festival at age 5, she has since performed at many of the world’s most well-known venues including Carnegie Hall, the White House, Lincoln Center, Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Hollywood Bowl. Symphonies across the world have performed Emily’s original compositions, and she has helped raise millions for charities across the globe through performances and events.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Richard M. (Dick) Butkus of Chicago, Illinois, was drafted by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League in 1965 after a stellar career as a student athlete at the University of Illinois. He is widely regarded as one of the best linebackers of all time. He played nine seasons for the Bears, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and has been recognized with virtually every award available in his sport at both the collegiate and professional levels. Following his career as a player Butkus appeared in more than a dozen movies, a variety of television shows and has been supportive of charitable activities through The Butkus Foundation, Inc.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7829″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7830″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]
Steven Chen, an alumnus of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, was the co-founder and chief technology officer of YouTube. In 1999, Steve arrived in Silicon Valley to join PayPal after studying Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. On his first day at PayPal, Steve met Chad Hurley, who would later become his YouTube co-founder.
Steve was instrumental in building YouTube into a viral video phenomenon. He was the CTO of YouTube during its major growth phase. He helped lead YouTube through the Google acquisition for $1.65 billion, less than a year after launching the site. As the key technologist, Steve developed the company’s massive data centers and helped build YouTube into a premier entertainment destination and one of the most popular websites on the Internet today.
Steve has received several prestigious honors and acknowledgments from the business and entertainment communities including: Business 2.0’s “50 Most Influential People,” GQ’s “Men of the Year,” Time magazine’s “Best Invention of the Year,” and Fortune’s “Most Powerful People in Business.”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Mellody Hobson is President of Ariel Investments and chairman of Ariel Investment Trust’s board of trustees. A director of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Starbucks Corporation, Mellody is chairman of After School Matters, a non-profit providing Chicago teens with high-quality after-school programming. Mellody regularly contributes to CBS News, the Tom Joyner Morning Show and Black Enterprise. Mellody is chair of The Economic Club of Chicago’s board of directors, a board member of The Chicago Public Education Fund, George Lucas Education Foundation, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and Sundance Institute. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she serves on the executive committee of the Investment Company Institute’s board of governors. In 2015, Mellody was named to Time Magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Mellody earned her A.B. degree from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7831″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7832″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]
Father Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. is a distinguished university administrator, professor, author, and scholar who has spent most of his career working in higher education. He served as President of Loyola University Chicago for 14 years and then assumed the role of Chancellor in 2015. This year, he returned to Fordham University, where he taught prior to coming to Loyola. He is a visiting research faculty member at Fordham. During his tenure at Loyola, he brought the university out of debt in just a few years and initiated a series of construction projects on both of Loyola’s city campuses. Very active in community service, Father Garanzini is well known for his work on behalf of children and families. He has published many books and articles on issues such as child and family therapy, moral development, and Catholic education.
In June 2011, Father Garanzini was appointed by Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., the superior general of the Society of Jesus, to serve as the secretary for higher education for the Society of Jesus. In this role, which officially began on September 1, 2011, and is in addition to his continued service as chancellor of Loyola, Father Garanzini assists the Father General on a part-time basis, coordinating and championing Jesuit higher-education issues around the world.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Edward L. McMillan was born and raised on his family’s farm in McDonough County, Illinois and is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a leader in state and national agribusiness, notably in his role as President and CEO of Purina Mills. McMillan has served on many industry boards of directors, as well as civic and philanthropy organizations, most notably his role as Board of Trustees Chairman of the University of Illinois System.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7833″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7834″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Louis H. Philipson, M.D., Ph.D. is Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Chicago, and a leading world authority on diabetes mellitus. He is the Founding Director of the Kovler Diabetes Center and President of the Chicago Community Leadership Board of the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Philipson co-discovered insulin gene mutations causing neonatal diabetes and helped make the University the Chicago the national leader in the study of monogenic diabetes. He also directs research in preventing and treating type 1 diabetes. Dr. Philipson completed his Ph.D. and medical training at the University of Chicago and is a graduate of Harvard College.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]David Rydell is Chairman of Bergstrom Inc., a designer and producer of climate systems for the commercial vehicle industry. He assumed the position of President and CEO in 1986 and Chairman in 2011. He helped position the company, along with Bergstrom’s management team, to have global production capabilities and become recognized as a technology leader in no-idle heating and air conditioning in its marketplace. Mr. Rydell is a native of Rockford, Illinois, and throughout his career has served and continues to serve on the boards of many community and not-for-profit organizations. He also supports said organizations and others through his family and company foundations. Mr. Rydell is a graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7835″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
