Latest news with #OrderofLincoln
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hon. Rita Garman named AMBUCS 92nd 'First Citizen'
The Honorable Justice Rita B. Garman has been selected AMBUCS 92nd First Citizen — an award given to 'leaders in the community who selflessly sacrifice of themselves for the greater good,' according to the AMBUCS website. Beyond serving as a circuit judge and Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Garman has spent her life serving her community in a myriad of ways. Public Servant, Judge, and Justice Garman, who was raised in Aurora, began her career as a legal aid attorney, later becoming an assistant state's attorney. She served for 49 years on the bench in Illinois, retiring in 2022 as the longest-serving female judge in Illinois' history. Garman was first appointed associate judge in Vermilion County in 1974, then elected as a circuit judge in 1986 and appointed to the Fourth District Appellate Court in 1995. She later served on the Illinois Supreme Court for 21 years, including three years as Chief Justice from 2013-2016. Governor J.B. Pritzker named Garman to the Order of Lincoln in 2024 — the highest civilian honor in Illinois, given to those who have displayed notable career achievement and public service. Garman was the first female judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, the first female circuit judge, the first female justice on the Fourth District Appellate Court. During her time on the Supreme Court of Illinois, she became the first Chief Justice to have served at every level of the Illinois judiciary — associate judge, circuit judge, presiding circuit judge, appellate justice, presiding appellate justice, supreme court justice, and chief justice, according to Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White. As a Supreme Court Justice, Garman helped start a committee on child custody cases, to help ensure a more expedient process. All told, Garman has received many awards recognizing her service as a judge and justice — the Illinois Judges Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the Harold Sullivan Award for Judicial Excellence, the Person of the Year Award from Chicago Lawyer Magazine, the Spirit of Lincoln Award from the Abraham Lincoln Association, the Public Interest Law Initiative Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Myra Bradwell Award from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Community Service Beyond her time serving as a judge and justice, Garman also served her community by singing in the choir at St. James United Methodist Church, as well as taking part in church committees. Garman has also served on the Vermilion County 708 Mental Health board — a group which plans, reviews, and evaluates community programs and facilities providing mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities services to the residents of Vermilion County, according to the Vermilion County website. Justice Garman was also one of the first women to serve on the Danville Noon Rotary Club. Arts Patron & Advocate Garman has spent her life dedicated to the arts, as well, serving on the board of directors for the Danville Symphony Orchestra. She was even named Emeritus Board Member. In 1987, she established the John Sanders Scholarship — a scholarship named after an English teacher that worked at Danville High School. Of Garman, Patrick Halloran — Chair of AMBUCS' First Citizen board — said she is a 'pioneer, a visionary, a well-respected member of the Illinois Bar Association, a selfless example of service, a luminary in our community, we are incredibly proud to recognize this amazing woman.' '[Garman] exemplifies the definition of what it means to be a First Citizen by choosing to make a positive impact within the Danville community and for all who encounter her exceptional presence,' Halloran said. A dinner honoring Justice Garman will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the Turtle Run banquet center. The dinner is open to the public and $35 tickets can be purchased at the door.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hon. Rita Garman named AMBUCS 92nd 'First Citizen'
The Honorable Justice Rita B. Garman has been selected AMBUCS 92nd First Citizen — an award given to 'leaders in the community who selflessly sacrifice of themselves for the greater good,' according to the AMBUCS website. Beyond serving as a circuit judge and Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Garman has spent her life serving her community in a myriad of ways. Public Servant, Judge, and Justice Garman, who was raised in Aurora, began her career as a legal aid attorney, later becoming an assistant state's attorney. She served for 49 years on the bench in Illinois, retiring in 2022 as the longest-serving female judge in Illinois' history. Garman was first appointed associate judge in Vermilion County in 1974, then elected as a circuit judge in 1986 and appointed to the Fourth District Appellate Court in 1995. She later served on the Illinois Supreme Court for 21 years, including three years as Chief Justice from 2013-2016. Governor J.B. Pritzker named Garman to the Order of Lincoln in 2024 — the highest civilian honor in Illinois, given to those who have displayed notable career achievement and public service. Garman was the first female judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, the first female circuit judge, the first female justice on the Fourth District Appellate Court. During her time on the Supreme Court of Illinois, she became the first Chief Justice to have served at every level of the Illinois judiciary — associate judge, circuit judge, presiding circuit judge, appellate justice, presiding appellate justice, supreme court justice, and chief justice, according to Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White. As a Supreme Court Justice, Garman helped start a committee on child custody cases, to help ensure a more expedient process. All told, Garman has received many awards recognizing her service as a judge and justice — the Illinois Judges Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the Harold Sullivan Award for Judicial Excellence, the Person of the Year Award from Chicago Lawyer Magazine, the Spirit of Lincoln Award from the Abraham Lincoln Association, the Public Interest Law Initiative Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Myra Bradwell Award from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Community Service Beyond her time serving as a judge and justice, Garman also served her community by singing in the choir at St. James United Methodist Church, as well as taking part in church committees. Garman has also served on the Vermilion County 708 Mental Health board — a group which plans, reviews, and evaluates community programs and facilities providing mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities services to the residents of Vermilion County, according to the Vermilion County website. Justice Garman was also one of the first women to serve on the Danville Noon Rotary Club. Arts Patron & Advocate Garman has spent her life dedicated to the arts, as well, serving on the board of directors for the Danville Symphony Orchestra. She was even named Emeritus Board Member. In 1987, she established the John Sanders Scholarship — a scholarship named after an English teacher that worked at Danville High School. Of Garman, Patrick Halloran — Chair of AMBUCS' First Citizen board — said she is a 'pioneer, a visionary, a well-respected member of the Illinois Bar Association, a selfless example of service, a luminary in our community, we are incredibly proud to recognize this amazing woman.' '[Garman] exemplifies the definition of what it means to be a First Citizen by choosing to make a positive impact within the Danville community and for all who encounter her exceptional presence,' Halloran said. A dinner honoring Justice Garman will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the Turtle Run banquet center. The dinner is open to the public and $35 tickets can be purchased at the door.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘What they have given for us will never be in vain': Illinois' fallen officers honored at ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)– The month of May began with nine fallen officers honored at the Illinois Annual Memorial Ceremonies inside the State Library. This year's event marked the 40th anniversary of the Illinois Police Officer Memorial, which is held every first Thursday of May to pay tribute to law enforcement who died in the line of duty. The event brought together law enforcement officers, family members, and leaders from across the state to show their support for the families who are mourning their loved ones. Illinois AG sues to stop dismantling of Health and Human Services department This year's ceremony began with a lineup of squad cars from around the state driving from the State Fairgrounds to the memorial church. Afterwards, speeches were given by state leaders, including Governor J.B. Pritzker. 'They woke up every single day knowing that they may be called on to face extreme uncertainty, that they may be required to put themselves in harm's way to save another,' Pritzker said. 'No tribute or memorial could ever recognize them enough to repay the debt that we owe to these heroes. But we've gathered today in unity to honor their sacrifice and to affirm to you and to their brothers and sisters in law enforcement that they will never be forgotten—that what they have given for us will never be in vain. We're here to honor their memories and uphold their legacies.' The themes from many other officials, including Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Comptroller Susana Mendoza, focused on honoring the sacrifice, supporting the grieving families, and uniting. Six Illinois women honored with 2025 Order of Lincoln Vice President of Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors Michael McTighe held a prayer before his speech. He later shared the story of Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call in 2021. 'It's to remind our families that we will never forget their loved one, and their sacrifice is already too much to bear,' McTighe said. 'And to remind our families that no matter whether it's one year or 20 years, all our cops will be here to remember your loved one and never forget them.' The ceremonies included a 21-gun salute as well as a reading of all the fallen officers' names, their departments, and the day they died to keep their memories alive. The 2024 Honorees were: Deputy Cristina Musil, DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, EOW March 29, 2024 Sergeant Andrew J. Faught, Illinois Department of Corrections, EOW April 8, 2024 Officer Luis Miguel Huesca, Chicago Police, EOW April 21, 2024 Deputy Sheriff Rafael Wordlaw, Cook County Corrections, EOW July 30, 2024 Officer James B. Crowley, Chicago Police, EOW Aug. 22, 2024 Trooper Corey Steven Thompsen, Illinois State Police, EOW Oct. 18, 2024 Officer Enrique Martinez, Chicago Police, EOW Nov. 4, 2024 Detective Allen Marcus Reddins, Oak Park Police, EOW Nov. 29, 2024 Trooper Clay Matthew Carns, Illinois State Police, EOW Dec. 23, 2024 For the first time in the memorial's history, K-9 officers were also recognized. In total, 21 police service dogs were honored. Three died last year, with some honorees dated back to 1965. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Six Illinois women honored with 2025 Order of Lincoln
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Six women from Illinois were honored for their professional achievement and public service on the University of Illinois' campus over the weekend. The Order of Lincoln recognizes individuals whose contributions have led to the betterment of humanity in Illinois. The 2025 recipients were honored on Saturday, May 3, at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. PREVIOUSLY: Six Illinoisans to be honored as 2025 Order of Lincoln recipients This year's honorees include: Olympic speed skater Bonnie Blair, born in Champaign Poet Sandra Cisernos Architect Jeanne Gang, U of I graduate Emmy-award winning Chicago journalist Carol Marin, U of I graduate Julieanna Richardson, whose organization The HistoryMakers collects African-American oral histories former CEO of Chicago Public Schools Janice K. Jackson The six recipients are now among the more than 350 distinguished Illinois residents who have joined the Order of Lincoln over the last fifty years. Champaign-born Bonnie Blair was the first American woman to win five gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games. Her first Olympic appearance was at the 1984 Sarajevo Games. Four years later in Calgary, Blair earned her first gold medal in the 500 meter speed skating event. In the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville Blair added two more gold medals, and in 1994, Blair stood atop the podium and received another two gold medals at the Olympic Games in Lillehammer. After retiring from speed skating, Blair became a motivational speaker and an advocate for the Alzheimer's Association, the American Brain Tumor Association and the Leukemia Association, in honor of her family members that had been impacted. Remembering Jerry Schweighart: Bonnie Blair's story Jeanne Gang graduated from Illinois with a degree in architecture in 1986. Since then, she's founded international architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang and is known for designs across the Americas and Europe, including the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History; a new United States Embassy in Brazil; and an expansion of the Clinton Presidential Center. Gang is also a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and has been named one of TIME Magazine's most influential people in the world. In 2024, she served as the U of I's commencement speaker. Carol Marin graduated from the University of Illinois and went on to become a journalist and Emmy Award-winning reporter. She's worked at WMAQ-TV Chicago, CBS News, the Chicago Sun-Times, among others. Marin has won numerous awards, including multiple Peabody Awards, the Gracie Award, as well as two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards. In 2016, DePaul University launched the Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence with Marin as co-director. Pro-Palestine student protestors return to Alma Mater at U of I Sandra Cisernos is a poet and writer who explores the lives of the working-class. Her novel 'The House on Mango Street' has sold over eight million copies, has been translated into over twenty-five languages, and is required reading in elementary, high school, and universities across the nation. Julieanna Richardson is the founder and president of The HistoryMakers, a Chicago-based nonprofit, which is a nonpartisan, digital, archival collection of African-American oral histories. Richardson started her career as an attorney for a Chicago law firm. Later, she became a cable administrator for the City of Chicago Office of Cable Communications, founded Shop Chicago, and created a production company. In 1999 Richardson began compiling African American oral histories. Now, her archive contains over 348 Illinoisians, more than any other state on record. Janice Jackson, EdD, is the CEO of Hope Chicago and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). She also founded and led two Chicago public high schools. Her 22-year career with CPS is most notable for the district's results in advancing equitable student outcomes. Now, her work with Hope Chicago seeks to create economic mobility for disinvested communities through scholarships. You can read more about the event and this year's honorees here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Belvidere native Jeanne Gang to receive Order of Lincoln award
CHICAGO (WTVO) – A Belvidere native is one of six Illinoisans who will receive the state's highest honor for professional achievement and public service this year. Architect Jeannie Gang will receive an Order of Lincoln award on May 3, 2025, during the 61st Annual Convocation at Krannert Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A 1982 graduate of Belvidere High School, Gang is nown for a distinctive design approach that expands beyond architecture's conventional boundaries. Her diverse portfolio across the Americas and Europe includes the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History; a new United States Embassy in Brazil; and an expansion of the Clinton Presidential Center. She also designed the Beloit College Powerhouse in Beloit. A MacArthur Fellow and a Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Gang has been named one of TIME Magazine's most influential people in the world. 'With world-renowned achievements in athletics, literature, architecture, education, journalism and history, the 2025 class of Lincoln Laureates embody the very best that Illinois has to offer,' Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release. 'I am proud to uplift their incredible contributions and to award these talented men and women our state's highest honor.' The other five Lincoln Laureates are Bonnie Blair, the first American woman to win five gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games; Sandra Cisneros, a poet, short story writer, novelist; Janice K. Jackson, CEO of Hope Chicago and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS); Carol Marin, a journalist and Emmy Award-winning reporter who's worked for CBS News' '60 Minutes,' and the 'Evening News with Dan Rather;' and Julieanna L. Richardson, founder and president of The HistoryMakers, a Chicago-based nonprofit, that features a digital archival collection of African-American oral histories. The May 3 ceremony is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. A ticketed reception and dinner will immediately follow the ceremony, and tickets must be purchased in advance by April 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
