Northeastern Illinois University has selected Psychology major and Mathematical and Statistical Modeling of Complex Systems minor Bianca “Mykee” Vives as its 2023 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate. Every fall semester, The Lincoln Academy of Illinois honors one graduating senior from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities who demonstrates excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.
Vives and other Student Laureates from across the state were honored during the 49th annual Lincoln Academy Student Laureate program, which was held Nov. 4 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in downtown Springfield. Each Student Laureate received an Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award certificate signed by The Lincoln Academy Chancellor the Honorable Ron Spears and Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who serves as the President of the Lincoln Academy. Student Laureates also received a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin — to have as a continual reminder to be a leader who inspires and transforms communities through integrity, courage, honesty and empathy — and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy.
“I think that good leaders are efficient and compassionate,” Vives said. “I think it’s really important to be able to manage a group of people in a way that is respectful of their time while also achieving goals that are important to the group of people you are leading. I think that the most important part of being a leader is your ability to serve others, especially the group of people that you are leading.”
Vives came to Northeastern from Adlai E. Stevenson High School as a Northeastern Presidential Scholarship recipient and said she feels honored to be named Northeastern’s Lincoln Academy Student Laureate.
“It was a really special experience to represent NEIU in a statewide award, and I hope to continue to represent the University well,” Vives said. “I love how supportive the University is! Everyone I’ve interacted with is genuinely invested in my success as a person and as a student, and it is a great feeling.”
Vives was nominated for the award by University Honors Program Coordinator Jon Hageman.
"I've known Mykee since her freshman year,” said Hageman, who is also a Professor of Anthropology “Mykee makes courageous choices to challenge herself. She works hard to maintain her own integrity and the integrity of events and organizations she participates in. Above all, she works empathetically to improve the lives of others."
In addition to being an Honors Student, President of the Honors Student Advisory Board and a Peer Mentor for the inaugural year of the Honors Living Learning Community at The Nest, Vives is a MARC U-STAR scholar and ChicagoCHEC scholar (2022 cohort). She is also a competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete, ranking among the Top 10 athletes internationally in her division in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Her father owns the New Breed Training Center in Niles, and Vives’ love of the sport led her to become the head instructor for their children’s program.
“I've been training Brazilian jiu-jitsu for over 13 years now,” Vives said. “I was attracted to it as I grew up watching my father compete internationally. I love the community and the challenge that Jiu-Jitsu provides, and I love the chance to push my own boundaries and find myself capable of new things.”
After graduation, Vives plans to take a gap year to focus on competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, after which she wants to apply to graduate schools to earn her Ph.D. in Psychology, which she was drawn to for similar reasons.
“I've always loved school and academics, and I found myself particularly interested in social studies,” Vives said. “I took a Psychology class in high school and fell in love with the subject. I think it's really fascinating to be able to investigate how people ‘work,’ and also be able to use that knowledge to affect real change.”
Vives, who plans to graduate in Spring 2024, is grateful for all the faculty and staff at Northeastern who’ve gotten her to where she is today. She noted she was especially grateful to the MARC U-STAR faculty and staff; Assistant Professor of Psychology Andrew Young, who is the primary investigator for a research project Vives is working on; and Hageman, for nominating her for the award.
“At Northeastern I found a very supportive and understanding environment, and the longer I stayed the more impressed I was with the quality of the professors and the genuine care displayed by all the faculty,” Vives said. “I am so thankful for the opportunities that NEIU has given me.”
Top photo (from left): Stephanie Pace Marshall, Ph.D., 2005 Lincoln Laureate; Terry Mena, Ph.D, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; Bianca “Mykee” Vives; Jon Hageman, Ph.D., University Honors Program Coordinator; and Edgar J. Curtis, 2005 Lincoln Laureate at the 49th annual Lincoln Academy Student Laureate awards ceremony.
