October 29, 2008

Grimes named Lincoln Academy student laureate

by Andrea Hahn

ashley grimes

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Ashley Grimes, a senior studying sociology in the College of Liberal Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is the 2008 Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate representing SIUC.

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois presents the award annually to one distinguished senior at each of Illinois’ four-year college and universities, and to one student from each of the community colleges in Illinois as well.

Grimes and the other student laureates received their awards Oct. 18 in a ceremony at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

“The ceremony at the Old State Capitol building was a very inspirational mix of important historical influences and promising future prospects,” she said after the ceremony. “Meeting the distinguished members of the Lincoln Academy, as well as my fellow award recipients, truly made me realize the honor of being included in such an incredible group of people. Every detail of the ceremony conveyed a feeling of prestige and respect, and clearly embodied the responsibility and aspirations that come with such an amazing honor.”

Grimes, a native of Colfax, Ill., is the daughter of Daniel and Karen Grimes. She came to SIUC as a Presidential Scholar, which is the highest-valued academic scholarship offered here. She also won several other scholarships and awards, including the 2008 William M. Wasson Student Leadership award, the Dr. Willie Pearson Jr. Excellence in Sociology Award and the Margaret C. Griffin Scholarship. She maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

Grimes isn’t just about the books, though. She works on campus in Recreational Sports and Services as the facilities scheduling student worker. Before that, she worked in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts dean’s office.

She is a frequent volunteer, currently involved with the Women’s Center, Relay-for-Life and “clean-up” activities for Carbondale Main Street and Touch of Nature Environmental Center.

She is also involved in campus activities, including the Undergraduate Sociology Club, Recreational Sports and Services Leadership Team, Leadership Council as well as the Golden Key International Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Alpha Kappa Delta, for which she serves as vice president.

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois began in 1965, and the Student Laureate Award Program began 10 years later. Award winners receive a medallion of Lincoln, a certificate of merit and a small stipend. The award goes to those students who show overall excellence in their fields of study and also a commitment to worthy extracurricular activities.