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.
A dual major in bioengineering and chemistry, 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.
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois was established in 1965 to honor living Illinoisans who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in various fields. Each year, the Academy honors senior students at each of the four-year, degree-granting institutions in Illinois for overall excellence in civic engagement, curricular and extra-curricular programs. Each Student Laureate receives the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin, and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy. Student Laureates are selected by their individual schools.
“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," said Fanning, who emphasized that the undergraduate population of the U of I is more than double the population of her hometown. "So, I still struggle to comprehend how I can be the one selected out of such a large population of students."
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.
“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," said Fanning, who 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 said, “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.”
Fanning has received numerous 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.
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 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate award ceremony on Oct. 24, 2026, in Springfield held a special connection for Fanning.
“The award ceremony is returning to the Old State Capitol Historic Site. 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,” she said.