Governor bestows award on Chicago fourth-year

Fourth-year Stephen Lund was one of 50 top college seniors from Illinois who received the Order of Lincoln from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Gov. George Ryan bestowed the award on Lund Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Hall of Representatives of the Old State Capitol Historic Site.

The Lincoln Academy honors students for overall excellence in academic and extracurricular activities during college. Established 35 years ago, the Academy honors Illinois’ most distinguished citizens with the state’s highest award, the Order of Lincoln.

Lund, an Orland Park, Ill., native, will graduate in June with a bachelor’s degree in public policy studies. Lund plans to live in Chicago to pursue an acting career.

“When I learned I received the award, it made me reevaluate what I had been doing outside of class work and realize that I had put in a lot of work for others and not just for myself,” said Lund.

In addition to his studies, Lund completed an internship at The Second City, assisting in developing a permanent, fully funded internship there for other Chicago students. A member of Off-Off Campus, Lund played a key role in creating the troupe’s sketch about dating and sex education. According to David Owen, Health Professions Adviser in the College, “The sketch was so well done and educational that it is now an important program in the College’s orientation for first-year students.”

“We expect to hear wonderful things about Stephen over the years. He is an affable, gentle, sensitive and dynamic young man,” Owen added.