Aurora University student Emma Hill wins Lincoln Laureate award

San Diego resident among outstanding Illinois college seniors honored in November

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Aurora University senior Emma Hill (left) helps organize the first-ever Sleep Out on the Quad on Oct. 29.

AURORA, IL (12/16/2011)(readMedia)-- Aurora University student Emma Hill of San Diego, a senior health science major, has received the Lincoln Academy of Illinois' Student Laureate Award for 2011.

Hill was among the outstanding college seniors honored during the 37th annual Student Laureate Convocation at the Old State Capitol in Springfield in November. The Student Laureate Awards are presented for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to seniors from each of the four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities in Illinois. At the convocation, each student received a medallion, $150 check and certificate of achievement.

"These students have exhibited a personal commitment to excel as seen by their remarkable academic accomplishments," said John B. Simon, chancellor of the Lincoln Academy. "They serve as role models to other Illinois students. With hard-working and dedicated young leaders such as these, Illinois and the rest of the nation can look forward to a bright future."

The Lincoln Academy, unique among the 50 states, was established 45 years ago to honor Illinois' most distinguished citizens with the state's highest award, the Order of Lincoln.

In addition to her health science major, Hill is pursuing minors in chemistry, physiology and criminal justice. When she is not working part time in the Registrar's Office, she serves on the Honors Program advisory board and is a third-year member of the Leadership Education and Development program.

In October, Hill helped organize the first-ever Sleep Out on the Quad at AU, which raised awareness of homelessness and donations for the Hesed House homeless shelter in Aurora.

Additionally, Hill was a goalie on the women's soccer team and served as a volunteer goalkeeper trainer at West Aurora High School. Her campus memberships include Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and Illinois Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Chi sorority.