The Lincoln Academy of Illinois
The breast star of the Order of Lincoln: the Great Seal of Illinois circled by the Latin inscription, Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat (English: The one who has earned the palm [it], bears the reward) | |
| Formation | December 2, 1964 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Michael Butler and Governor Otto Kerner, Jr. |
| Type | Non-profit corporation |
| Purpose | Recognize contributions made by living Illinoisans |
| Headquarters | Springfield, Illinois |
Region served | Illinois |
President | Governor of Illinois |
Chancellor | Frank Clark |
Vice-Chancellor | The Honorable Ronald Dean Spears |
Executive Director | Leanne Barnhart |
| Website | thelincolnacademyofillinois |
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to recognizing contributions made by living Illinoisans. Named for Abraham Lincoln, the Academy administers the Order of Lincoln, the highest award given by the State of Illinois. Each year several persons are selected as Lincoln Laureates at a ceremony presided over by its president, the Governor of Illinois. The organization also gives an annual Student Laureate award to one student from each four-year degree-granting institution of higher learning in Illinois, plus one student from the state's community colleges. As of 2025, almost 500 prominent Illinoisans have been awarded the Order of Lincoln, since the award's creation in 1965.