Mara Lane '18 has been selected as Knox College's 2017 Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, in recognition of outstanding academic and personal achievements.

Lane, who is from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is majoring in art history and music and is pursuing a College Honors project. She also works as a teaching assistant for the music department at Knox and takes voice lessons and piano lessons. After graduating from Knox, she hopes to continue studying voice and attend graduate school in music.

Lane explained how her Knox experiences are preparing her for the future.

"Whether in my art history classes or music lessons, my professors always push me to think more critically, examine more carefully, and experiment more freely," she said. "As a result, I think my Knox experiences have provided me with valuable knowledge about myself and prepared me to thoughtfully engage in the world."

Lane said that one of her most meaningful experiences so far at Knox has been giving her junior recital.

"After working every day for months on my recital music, I felt like I understood and had internalized the repertoire. The recital then was a celebration of all the work I had done and a celebration of all the people who had helped me reach that point," she said. "By giving the recital, I felt that I honored the insight my voice teacher, collaborative pianist, and music professors had given to me. I also believe the knowledge and support that my art history professor has shared with me helped inform my interpretation of the music and was reflected in the performance as well."

Lane is the 43rd Knox College student to be inducted as a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy. A Knox senior has been chosen for the honor every year since 1975.

The Lincoln Academy inducts one senior annually from each four-year, degree-granting college and university, and one student from among the state's community colleges. In addition to designating Student Laureates, the Lincoln Academy honors distinguished citizens with the state's highest award, the Order of Lincoln.

Photo at top of page: Mara Lane '18, second from right, receives her Student Laureate certificate. Also on hand are, from left, Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall, Chancellor of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois; Greg Gilbert, professor and director of Knox's Art History Program; Diana Mendley Rauner, First Lady of Illinois; and Governor Bruce Rauner, president of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois.