Zina Lewis, a senior classics major from Pekin, Ill., has been named a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. One student from each of 51 four-year colleges and universities in Illinois may be selected for the award, which honors overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular studies. Lewis was selected following an extensive nominating process by Monmouth faculty and administrators. A member of four honor societies at Monmouth College, she is actively involved in Eta Sigma Phi, the classics honor society, having served as its president and vice president. She has received several academic honors in her MC career, including the Harold Ralston Classics Writing Award, and she was one of two Monmouth students to earn a Summer Minority Scholarship from the Associated Colleges of the Midwest in 1999. The paper she wrote as a result of that scholarship has earned high praise, and she will be presenting it in Georgia this weekend, causing her to miss the Lincoln Academy induction ceremony in Springfield. Her mother will accept her laureate medal from Gov. George Ryan in her stead. Monmouth's Student Laureate traditionally addresses the senior class during commencement exercises.