Photo via Kelsey Vogt
Every year, one student from each of the four-year universities in Illinois is selected to receive the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award. This year, Bradley senior finance major Kelsey Vogt is among these student recipients.
Since 1975, the award has been given to students who exhibit exceptional leadership and involvement, in both academics and extracurricular activities.
The award was given to Vogt because of her commitment to numerous clubs and leadership positions throughout campus, including Student Senate, Student Activities Budget Review Committee (SABRC), the Student Alumni Association and Sigma Kappa sorority.
While many scholarships and awards emphasize certain GPAs, the Student Laureate award specifically recognizes involved students who have greatly impacted their communities.
There is only so much you can learn inside the classroom, Vogt said. I have learned so much through my co-curricular activities, and those things are skills and knowledge you cant gain from reading a book or doing an assignment.
Senior interactive media major Kevin Mikolajczak has worked closely alongside Vogt in both research groups and on-campus committees. He said he attributes her success to her strong sense of character.
Kelsey is extremely passionate about everything shes involved in and really strives to do her best in performing above and beyond expectations, said Mikolajczak. She is a true team player who takes critical thinking and problem-solving seriously.
Though Vogt was aware of this award before being selected, she said she was very surprised to see her own name among the list of winners.
Nathan Thomas asked me to stay after a meeting and told me that I won an award. He then proceeded to tell me that it was the Student Laureate Award, Vogt said. I was speechless when he told me I was getting the award. I felt surprised and so honored. This was a personal goal of mine, and the thought of me actually achieving it is unbelievable.
There isnt a more deserving student according to Vice President of Student Affairs, Nathan Thomas, who has worked with Vogt the past two years in her Student Body Officer positions.
Kelsey is an example of what we hope our Bradley students will be, succeeding both in and out of the classroom, Thomas said. Kelsey will graduate Summa Cum Laude and has secured a job with CAT upon graduation. Shes made an impact on campus serving as a student leader.
This spring, Kelsey will meet the other recipients as she is inducted into the Order of Lincoln. She will then be presented with the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Certificate, as well as a monetary grant.
