Press "Enter" to skip to content

Stein awarded Order of Lincoln

This year, six people received the Order of Lincoln, the state of Illinois’ highest honor. Illinois poet laureate and Bradley English professor Kevin Stein was one of those six.

Of the other five recipients, three are associated with Bradley in some way, whether as honorary alumni, graduates or professors: Nancy Goodman Brinker, Ray LaHood and Robert Gilmore.

Stein said he was stunned and humbled when he heard about the award, which is given to honor individuals whose contributions to society have been accomplished in Illinois or if they have done so in association with the state.

“It’s a kind of honor no one can ever plan for,” Stein said. “If you begin life in art and you’re worried about publishing or winning awards, well, then, you’re not really in the life of art.”

The professor started his career as a poet in his garage band, where he said “art snuck up on him.”

“My first poems were my lame lyrics for my garage band,” Stein said. “I can’t carry a tune, though I like to think I can. I was a ham-handed guitarist, but I really enjoyed playing around with language and finding that even though I couldn’t make music with my voice or with my hands, I could with language.”

Students of his had positive feedback on Stein, as well.

“He’s really a fun teacher to have because you don’t feel like you’re in a classroom,” junior English major Jackie Fleming said. “He talks to you like you’re a person, and really just tries to improve your poetry. And he’s not afraid to voice his opinion, which is super refreshing.”

Stein said his students keep him connected to the world around him and he’s constantly learning from them.

“Students are always teaching me stuff, and it has a lot to do with culture and pop culture, of course, but I guess the thing I found the most gratifying is Bradley students, if you challenge them, they like to be challenged,” Stein said. “I don’t have students who shy away from a challenge. That’s a great place to be if you’re a teacher.”

As the poet laureate of Illinois, Stein has presented and read his poetry in over 200 locations. He works to promote poetry and make it available to the general public.

“[The Order of Lincoln] seems like a lifetime achievement award in some sense, though I hope I still have a little writing and living out of me, but it does have that feel,” Stein said.

Copyright © 2023, The Scout, Bradley University. All rights reserved.
The Scout is published by members of the student body of Bradley University. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the University.