Passionate about making a real impact: Madison Fanning named 2026 Lincoln Laureate

“Sometimes, as a minority in engineering, I find others who want to compete for a seat at the metaphorical table, but my time with Women in Engineering taught me how to advocate to not only expand the table but get rid of it entirely.” – Madison Fanning

Whether managing forty-plus students in a residence hall, assisting with Welcome Week activities, recruiting orientation leaders, or even helping design an escape room, Madison Fanning has made a difference for students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where they live, study, and cheer on the Fighting Illini.

 Fanning has contributed to student organizations and services since she arrived on campus. Due to the impact she has had on others, Fanning has been named a 2026 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate. She said, “This award is not well known among students, but it is among staff. After I won, several deans, staff members, etc., congratulated me. It felt nice to be recognized for all my efforts and contributions to the university.”

Her service on campus has included membership in Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society; the Engineering Open House; Women in Engineering (WIE); and numerous campus organizations, including New Student and Family Experiences, New Student Registration, University Housing, and the Biomedical Engineering Society, as well as Illini Pride.

Fanning noted that “University Housing has one of the lowest barriers of entry for student leadership and is also one of the greatest sources of community among first-year students.” She ultimately took on the resident advisor role in a building where two-thirds of residents had disabilities.  “While I loved working with my residents to plan events of interest,” she noted, “my biggest challenge was getting my colleagues invested in ensuring that events should be accessible to all residents. I realized that few people understood the multitude of disabilities and how to plan events accommodating this. It took patience and compassion to teach my colleagues about disability. I will always carry the value of this advocacy with me.”

A bioengineering major and chemistry student, Fanning has received academic honors such as a Kirkwood Scholar, Grainger James Scholar, Chancellor’s Scholar, William & Elizabeth Ackerman Scholarship, and recognition as a Knight of St. Patrick. Fanning has truly been a leader who positively impacts student life at The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Fanning observed that “The undergraduate population of U of I is more than double the population of my hometown, so I still struggle to comprehend how I can be the one selected out of such a large population of students.”

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois was established in 1965 to honor living Illinoisans who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in various fields. The governor honors Lincoln Academy Student Laureates from colleges and universities across the state for their overall excellence in civic engagement and curricular and extracurricular activities. 

Yuting W. Chen, teaching associate professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering said, “it’s been a great joy to watch Madison grow as both a leader and a scholar over the years. She’s passionate about welcoming everyone into the Women in Engineering community, working on her research project, and making a real impact in multiple organizations on campus. I’m thrilled to see her hard work recognized through her selection as a Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate. It’s a well-earned honor, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.”

The award ceremony also holds something special for her. “The award ceremony is returning to the old state capital. My dad worked on the restoration of this project, so it feels like a full-circle moment to receive this award with a familial connection.”

Yuting W. Chen is an Illinois Grainger Engineering teaching associate professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering.