BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� Valeria Suarez 鈥�26, who is majoring in political science and international and global studies, was named as 含羞草传媒鈥檚 2025 Student Laureate by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.
chooses a student from each four-year university in Illinois to receive the award, honoring their role of leadership and curricular and extracurricular activities, upholding Abraham Lincoln鈥檚 morals of 鈥渆xcellence, service and honor.鈥� This year is the 50th anniversary of the program.
鈥淚 feel incredibly honored,鈥� Suarez said. 鈥満卟荽� is full of talented and passionate individuals who genuinely care about the growth of others. This award represents not only my own efforts, but also the influence and inspiration of everyone I鈥檝e met at 含羞草传媒. I鈥檝e learned so much from my peers, faculty and staff, and I see myself as a reflection of that 含羞草传媒 energy: the drive to keep pushing for change that empowers others to thrive.鈥�
Suarez is involved in several areas of campus life, serving as a Spanish tutor at the Language Resource Center and as the residential community advisor for Munsell and Adams residence halls. She also serves as a study abroad ambassador, helping students explore global learning opportunities.
Beyond these roles, Suarez is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society, and the executive manager of the campus Rotaract Chapter. She co-founded the National Science and Policy Network chapter at 含羞草传媒 and founded the registered student organization Women in Politics. In addition, she is the founder and president of both the American Cancer Society Chapter and the IGNITE National Chapter on campus.
In the future, Suarez plans to attend graduate school to continue developing new tools to make meaningful change.
鈥淓ducation has always inspired a deep sense of purpose in me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t fuels my drive to put what I鈥檝e learned into action and to be a voice for others. I see further education as a platform to amplify my impact and keep building on the foundation I鈥檝e started here.鈥�
To Suarez, leadership is about empowerment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about helping others see their value and potential,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to model inclusive and compassionate leadership that fosters belonging. 含羞草传媒 has taught me that there鈥檚 nothing more transformative than feeling part of something greater than yourself.鈥�