EIU student Alexander Morris Wilcoxon named 2025 Lincoln Laureate
Nov-18-2025
PHOTO CAPTION: From left— Thomas Skilling III, a past Lincoln Laureate Honoree and chief meteorologist emeritus at WGN-TV Chicago, EIU student and 2025 Lincoln Laureate Alexander Morris Wilcoxon, and Lincoln Academy Chancellor Todd Shapiro at the 51st Annual Convocation and Investiture of Student Laureates. The investiture ceremony was held on campus at the University of Chicago in October 2025.
(Charleston, IL) — Eastern Illinois University’s Alexander Morris Wilcoxon of Greenview, Illinois, recently was celebrated as a Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate. Wilcoxon was officially recognized for his achievement in a ceremony held October of 2025 at the University of Chicago. He joins other recipients as members of the 51st class of the Lincoln Academy Student Laureate program recognized for their excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities benefiting their institutions and communities.
“Being part of the EIU community is very rewarding,” Wilcoxon said. “There is so much to be a part of and the professors and staff are very supportive. They strive to help you achieve your full potential. I am proud to be a representative of EIU for this honor.”
This year’s Lincoln Laureate program included welcoming remarks by Todd Shapiro, Lincoln Academy Chancellor. Each of the recognized student laureates received the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award certificate, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin, and a scholarship from The Lincoln Academy.
Wilcoxon was nominated for the recognition by Joshua Norman, EIU Vice President for Enrollment Management. According to his nomination materials, Wilcoxon, a senior Accounting major, is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting with a minor in Economics. He plans to earn a Master's Degree in Business Administration with a focus in accountancy from EIU with career aspirations of becoming a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a corporation.
Wilcoxon is a 2023 graduate of Greenview (IL) High School. At EIU, he serves as a lead ambassador for the Office of Admissions, guiding prospective students, and mentors first-year students through the EIU Freshman Connection Program. Additionally, he is an active participant in EIU’s Sandra and Jack Pine Honors College. Other roles include President of the Student Investment Society, VP of Beta Alpha PSI (accounting fraternity), Treasurer of the Association of Honors Students, Treasurer of Sigma Pi Fraternity, a member of Delta Sigma Pi (business fraternity) and membership on the Lumpkin College of Business Dean’s Student Advisory Board. He is a member and past president of the Student Accounting Society and is active in the Campus Outreach Program as well as EIU Intramural Sports.
Since the Lincoln Academy’s inception in 1975, more than 2,000 Illinois students have been honored as Lincoln Laureates. According to the organization’s website, each recipient is selected “to honor individuals whose contributions to the betterment of humanity have been accomplished in or on behalf of the State of Illinois, or, whose achievements have brought honor to the state because of their identity with it, whether by birth or residence, or by their dedication to those principles of democracy and humanity as exemplified by the great Illinoisan whose name we bear.”
For more information about the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, visit lincolnacademyillinois.org.
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU's other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU's public information office at (217) 581-7400.
EIU gratefully acknowledges The Petersburg Observer for contributing background context referenced in an earlier online version of this release.
