Lake County Gazette

Emília de Paula Fonseca, a member of the Lake Forest College class of 2026, has been named a 2025 Student Lincoln Laureate. This recognition is one of the highest honors for college students in Illinois and was presented during the 51st Annual Convocation and Investiture of Student Laureates hosted by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois at the University of Chicago on October 18.

Each year, an outstanding senior from every four-year college or university in Illinois receives the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award. The award is given to students who demonstrate leadership and service that contribute to the betterment of humanity, as well as excellence in academic and extracurricular activities.

De Paula Fonseca, who majors in economics and international relations, was selected as Lake Forest College’s representative for her contributions to campus life. She has played a significant role in sexual assault prevention and survivor advocacy through positions such as Title IX student worker, advisory committee member, and co-president of the College’s It’s On Us chapter. In these roles, she worked on policy development, coalition building, and efforts to create a safer campus environment. She also helped re-establish the International Student Association at Lake Forest College.

Aldo Guzman, Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Gates Center for Leadership and Personal Growth, said: “Her leadership in this space is not only marked by effectiveness, but by empathy for those most impacted.”

In addition to her advocacy work, de Paula Fonseca has served as a Resident Assistant, Health and Wellness Peer Educator, and Gummere Fellow. Guzman added: “Across these roles, she has approached her peers with honesty, humility, and a deep desire to uplift others; hallmarks of the servant leadership Lincoln modeled.”

As part of the honor, each Student Laureate received an Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award certificate signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker; a Lincoln medallion; a challenge coin; and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy.

In her Student Laureate Legacy Statement de Paula Fonseca wrote: “While a leader is often in the spotlight, true leadership is a selfless process. Lincoln’s Leadership Legacy illustrates that at the center of being a leader are the people you serve and represent, not yourself. Such a principle guides my commitment to listening to and understanding those whose lives are touched by my actions while being aware of the weight of my leadership, given that affecting even a single life requires responsibility and commitment to equality and empathy.”

For more information about past recipients from Lake Forest College or about leadership opportunities on campus visit See pastForester Lincoln Laureates or Explore theGates Center for Leadership and Personal Growth.