BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Valeria Suarez ‘26, who is majoring in political science and international and global studies, was named as Illinois Wesleyan’s 2025 Student Laureate by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.
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’s morals of “excellence, service and honor.” This year is the 50th anniversary of the program.
“I feel incredibly honored,” Suarez said. “IWU 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’ve met at IWU. I’ve learned so much from my peers, faculty and staff, and I see myself as a reflection of that IWU energy: the drive to keep pushing for change that empowers others to thrive.”
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 IWU 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.
“Education has always inspired a deep sense of purpose in me,” she said. “It fuels my drive to put what I’ve 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’ve started here.”
To Suarez, leadership is about empowerment.
“It’s about helping others see their value and potential,” she said. “I want to model inclusive and compassionate leadership that fosters belonging. IWU has taught me that there’s nothing more transformative than feeling part of something greater than yourself.”