IC's Monge among state’s most elite college students
Illinois College senior Chas Monge '19, of Metamora, was among those recognized during a recent ceremony at the Old State Capitol in Springfield held each year to honor the top students from the state’s colleges and universities.
It’s not an opportunity to boast about myself, but rather I’m in this position because there are fantastic opportunities on my campus that I ran with. I got to work directly with professors on research projects, I went to faraway places and studied abroad, I did all of these fantastic things because those were the opportunities that my campus gave me.
By David Blanchette | Journal-Courier
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois’ 43rd annual Student Laureate Convocation recognized excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by one senior from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities.
Monge, a 21-year-old psychology and sociology major, gave credit for the award to the learning environment at Illinois College.
“It’s not an opportunity to boast about myself, but rather I’m in this position because there are fantastic opportunities on my campus that I ran with,” Monge said. “I got to work directly with professors on research projects, I went to faraway places and studied abroad, I did all of these fantastic things because those were the opportunities that my campus gave me.”
Graduate school and a doctorate are next up for Monge, who may return to a college campus for a career.
“Doing research would be the optimal choice, but in general working at a college on the professor level would be the best of both worlds,” Monge said. “I would get to engage in research with students and also do some teaching, which would be really fun.”
Each Student Laureate was presented with a certificate of merit, a Lincoln medallion, and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy.
“It affirms their tremendous dedication to academic scholarship and research, their devotion to community service, and the fact that these students really want to be change-makers to the world,” said Lincoln Academy Chancellor Stephanie Pace Marshall. “The Lincoln Academy is one of those organizations that can say those are exactly the things you would be doing if you lead in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln.”
In addition to honoring the state’s Student Laureates, The Lincoln Academy also selects present or former citizens who have made outstanding contributions toward the progress and betterment of humanity to be honored as Laureates of the Lincoln Academy and receive the “Order of Lincoln,” a process that has been in place since 1964.