LaRosa Named College’s 26th Lincoln Laureate

Senior Alberto LaRosa of Glendale Heights, Illinois, has been named Trinity Christian College’s 26th Lincoln Laureate by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He was honored at the annual Student Laureate Convocation in Springfield on November 5.

Given to outstanding senior students from each of Illinois’ four-year, degree granting colleges and universities, the Student Laureate Award recognizes excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.

LaRosa, a theology major with minors in philosophy and chemistry, has exhibited sincere commitment to community formation and sustainability. He held a Resident Assistant (RA) position last year in South Hall, the freshmen residence hall, and currently serves as an upperclassmen RA in Tibstra Hall. LaRosa is a member of the concert choir and has been a member of the men’s varsity soccer team and a staff writer for Trinity’s student newspaper. In the academic realm, LaRosa has been conducting collaborative research with Dr. Clayton Carlson, assistant professor of biology, for the past year.

Outside of Trinity, LaRosa stays active in his home congregation at Bloomingdale Church. He served as the summer intern working with the high school youth group and is currently a member of the missions committee. In the local community, LaRosa tutors students from Amos Alonzo Stagg High School who need extra assistance with math and science-related topics.

LaRosa’s two years of being an RA have included some of the most shaping experiences in his time at Trinity. “It’s amazing to see a group of young men develop friendships and form an identity as a residence hall floor,” he said. “Both years, I’ve watched my residents ‘glue’ together right away, sharing a commitment and willingness to be a part of a community.”

Being involved in and outside of the Trinity community has taught LaRosa something about himself that is transferrable to everything in life. “I’ve learned that who I am is deeply, intrinsically related to those around me,” LaRosa said. “God instilled a passion for people in me, and I’ve learned to depend on people who are driving forces in my life.”

LaRosa has plans to attend seminary and medical school in the future and hopes to work in reconciliation-focused missions. The feeling of moving on to the next phase, LaRosa said, is bittersweet.

“There are a lot of things I will miss about Trinity, and it essentially comes down to the people I’ve gotten to know in my time here,” he said. “Every day at Trinity is consistently good.”

At the convocation, LaRosa received a Student Laureate Medallion, accompanied by an honorarium check and certificate of achievement.

The Lincoln Academy, unique among the 50 states, was established 46 years ago to honor Illinois’ most distinguished citizens with the state’s highest award, the Order of Lincoln. The Annual Convocation and Investiture of Laureates of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois will take place Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Illinois State Capital House Chambers in Springfield.

Trinity Christian College Lincoln Laureates

2011 – Alberto LaRosa

2010 – Joseph Wydra

2009 – Jonathan VanderWoude

2008 – Caitlin Fillmore

2007 – Elizabeth VanderSpek

2006 – Allison Backous

2005 – Erin Marshalek

2004 – Rachel Van Oort

2003 – Yvana Hansen

2002 – Evan VanderZee

2001 – Nate Bosch

2000 – Laurie Johnson

1999 – Hanna Vander Zee

1998 – Kristen Devine

1997 – Heidi Boeck

1996 – Julie Tinklenberg

1995 – Keri Dyksterhouse

1994 – Mark Mulder

1993 – Kristen Hart

1992 – Sarah Ver Velde

1991 – Aron Reppmann

1990 – Nathan Van Der Male

1989 – Drew Sweetman

1988 – Erik Hoekstra

1987 – Kimberly Dykema

1986 – Edward Wiener, Jr.