Lincoln Academy of Illinois Awards Ellen Hilbrands with 2021 Laureate
The Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award is granted to an outstanding senior exemplifying passion for learning and giving to the community.
Over the course of Ellen Hilbrands’ academic career at North Park, she has distinguished herself as a top academic student with a 3.965 GPA and as an active participant in campus and community life. The 2021 Lincoln Academy Laureate and Sociology senior actively participates in her learning by staying after class engaging in deep conversations with her professors, elevating her knowledge in areas of interest such as research methods.
“It’s really encouraging to me that my professors nominated me and saw my dedication on- and off-campus,” said Hilbrands.
To be nominated, Hilbrands had to meet the criteria of being a senior in a college of Illinois exemplifying leadership characteristics of Abraham Lincoln: courage, empathy, honesty, and integrity. On December 1, 2021, President Mary K. Surridge presented in-person and on-campus to Hilbrands the 2021 Lincoln Academy Laureate award, a signed letter from Governor Pritzker, and a $500 check.
“This is a really big honor which comes with great endorsement and pride and delight,” said President Surridge.
An ever-present inquisitive mind Hilbrands approaches her classes with a committed-to-learn work ethic. In her Justice in Education course, the first as a Sociology major right after switching from Elementary Education, she left each class with more questions than answers. “I was excited to attend the next class and anticipate what new conversations and insights we would have together,” said Hilbrands.
Well-regarded across campus, the Grand Rapids, MI, native connects with her peers taking on a variety of leadership roles including: organizing events such visiting art exhibits and touring Cabrini Green’s gentrification process; partnering with UMin for Friday Night Street Ministry; and serving as a University Ambassador for Admissions, SGA’s Religious Life Representative, Senior Class Senator, and Sociology Club Treasurer.
Doing more than expected is Hilbrands’ trademark. In her Methods of Social Science Research course, Hilbrands took on extra work to prepare her class research paper to be presented at the Midwestern Sociological Society’s 2021 Conference in Chicago March 2022.
Inspired by engaging in conversations about the ways to support one another in the community, Hilbrands generously gives back to the community sharing her passion for learning and own knowledge as a fifth grade reading tutor at Hibbard Elementary School and establishing an online, inter-generational book club.
“Thank you for your commitment to the classroom and on a co-curricular basis, which we will honor at the Spring Convocation,” Surridge said.
Hilbrands is a member of the Gospel Choir and has spent her summers as Kids College Camp Counselor, Kids College Camp Teacher, and Youth Services Intern at World Relief. Post-graduation, Hilbrands plans to stay and work in Chicago in a school or non-profit environment and then attend graduate school.
Hilbrands is already preparing how she can apply her Sociology degree towards realistic solutions to social issues. “I am excited to make a difference in how humanity can continuously work together to combat injustices in a way that preserves the dignity of each and every person,” said Hilbrands.
About the Lincoln Academy of Illinois
Each fall, an outstanding senior from each of the four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois is awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and thereby becomes a Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois…In the spirit of Lincoln, Student Laureates are honored for their leadership and service on campus and beyond in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity, and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities. Nominees demonstrate strong leadership aptitude and the characteristics of Abraham Lincoln that made him someone who inspired and transformed the world for generations: integrity, courage, honesty, and empathy.
Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories Announcement, Stories
I am delighted to announce today that the Executive Committee of North Park University’s Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full Board, has approved the nomination and appointment of Francisco X. Gaytán, PhD, as Vice President for Student Engagement (VPSE). Dr. Gaytán will join the President’s Cabinet, partnering with and reporting directly to the President, beginning August 23, 2021.
Providing more than 35 years of distinguished service to North Park as faculty, Director, and Paul W. Brandel Professor of Nursing, Dr. Zetterlund is the first North Park nursing faculty to earn a doctorate and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Theological Seminary.
Michael Harper earned a BA in economics from North Park University in 1980. From 1978–80, he led the North Park Vikings to three consecutive Men’s Basketball NCAA Division III National Championships. His jersey (#33) was retired in 1981, and in 1988 he was entered into the North Park University Viking Hall of Fame. In 2005 Michael was honored with the North Park University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Joanna (Ericson) Kanakis is a 2006 magna cum laude graduate of North Park University with dual degrees in philosophy and French. As a student, she was a Presidential Scholar, sang in the University Choir, received the Lindahl Prize for Excellence in Philosophy, and studied abroad in Paris for a semester. Joanna grew up attending Faith Covenant Church in Wheaton, IL, and is the daughter of Theodore (C’72) and Meredith (C’72) Ericson and granddaughter of the late Anne (C’46) and the late Leslie Daniel (C’46) Ericson. Her sisters, Katherine (C’01) and Elizabeth (C’98) also graduated from North Park.
Curtis (S’08) is the North Park University Board of Trustees ECC Superintendent Representative. He received his master of arts in Christian ministry and theology with high honors. He attended the University of Oklahoma as an undergraduate and earned a BA in mathematics in 1992. He also attended Regent College in Vancouver, BC, from 2000–04, focusing on theological studies. Curtis, who has both Russian and Inupiaq heritage, grew up in Unalakleet, Alaska, and identifies as Alaskan Native. He is the first Alaskan Native leader to serve as superintendent of the Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, a role he has held since 2011. Previously, he served as Associate Pastor at Unalakleet Covenant Church, Campus Pastor at Alaska Christian College, Director of Admissions at Alaska Christian College, and Field Director for the Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska. Curtis and his wife, Kristi, have one daughter and two sons.
Karen Stein graduated from North Park University in 1972 and earned her JD degree in 2005 from John F. Kennedy University. She is a retired attorney-at-law who was self-employed and specialized in elder law, estate planning, and trust administration. Before law school she was employed at International Business Machines in Systems Engineering and Sales from 1975 to 2000. She is a member of the State Bar of California (inactive). She and her husband, Richard (Rich), have two adult children and four grandchildren. Karen and Rich are members of Crossroads Covenant Church in Greely, CO.
Sally Carlson graduated from North Park University with dual degrees in biblical and theological studies and in Spanish. She earned her MA in Christian Formation and MBA from North Park Theological Seminary in 2011. Sally is also an alumnus and former staff member of Covenant Bible College in Strathmore, AB. She has served in a variety of ways throughout the ECC, including serving on the CHIC Council for CHIC 2015, as a member of the ECC Executive Board, and was the Financial Officer for the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. She is married to fellow Seminary alum Daniel G. Larson. Sally has previously served as a pastor at Norquay Covenant Church in Saskatchewan (where she co-pastored with her husband) and at Hope Community Covenant Church in Strathmore, Alberta. In 2019, Sally joined the staff of Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, WA as Associate Pastor of Congregational Care.
Christine Rosell earned a BA in Business Communication and is married to Jack, a fellow North Park graduate. Together they have three children; one is a North Park alum, and one is a current student at North Park. Christine has previously served on the North Park Board of Trustees, from 2014–2019. She was a member of the Finance Committee, Advancement Committee, and the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee. She also served as the liaison to the ECC Executive Board. Christine has previously worked in marketing for Covenant Retirement Communities (now Covenant Living) and has been an active volunteer in her local community. She and her family are longtime members of North Park Covenant Church in Chicago, IL.
Pastor Gricel Medina is ordained to Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She holds degrees from Oswego State University, Oral Roberts University, and the Centro Hispano Estudios Teologicos where she majored in Hispanic theological studies and minored in marriage and family counseling. Gricel has served as a bilingual church planter for the Evangelical Covenant Church as well as serving alongside the superintendent, giving leadership to Hispanic, Asian, and African American pastors. She has developed prayer summits for Hispanic congregations and has served on the board of the Hispanic Clergy Association, as well as the ECC Commission for Biblical Gender Equality. She publishes, speaks, and teaches about racial egalitarian justice. Pastor Gricel has published widely on biblical gender equality, mercy, and justice for CBE journals, the Covenant Companion, and Covenant Home Altar. She has received the Christians For Biblical Equality (CBE) International Lifetime Achievement Award and was the first Hispanic individual to serve two terms as chairperson of the ECC Commission on Biblical Gender Equality. In March 2019, she was featured as one of 11 “Women Shaping the Church” by Sojourners. Gricel was born in New York to parents who migrated from Puerto Rico. She speaks, translates, writes, and preaches fluently in Spanish and English. Gricel and her husband, Luis, live in Carrollton, Texas.
Beth Fredrickson earned a BA in English from North Park and a master of arts in journalism at Marquette University. Beth is married to John, a fellow North Park alum, and together they have a daughter and two sons who all graduated from North Park. Beth has had a diverse career, beginning as a teacher at Mundelein High School, where she taught journalism for three years. After teaching, she served as the Church Relations Coordinator at Harbor Point Ministries from 1997–99. During this time, Beth also worked as Public Relations Counsel at First Edition, until 2005 when she accepted a role at Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations Firm as PR Counselor, then Senior PR Counselor, for 11 years. In October of 2016, she returned to Harbor Point Ministries as the Executive Director, a role she still serves in today.