Kruz Barrera receives Lincoln Laureate award

Kruz Ernesto Barrera was named one of the recipients of the 2025 Laureate Award from The Lincoln Academy of Illinois in October 2025 and was recognized for this honor by the Illinois State University Board of Trustees at their February 20, 2026, meeting.

Barrera is expected to graduate from Illinois State in May 2026 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA, was named to the Dean's List for the past six semesters, and is an active member of the Honors Program. His long-term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in counseling psychology.

"This dedication to a greater good is what motivated me to pursue a career in counseling psychology," Barrera said. "Thanks to the support of my family, faculty, and friends, my commitment to uplifting my community and its members will always reside at the center of my soul."

Last year, Barrera also was awarded the most prestigious university-wide honor bestowed upon undergraduate students, the Bone Scholarship, named in honor of the late Robert G. Bone, president of Illinois State University from 1956-1967. This award is presented to undergraduate students who combine excellent academic achievement and community engagement activities on and off campus with exceptional qualities of character and leadership. The competition for this scholarship is rigorous, and he was recognized as one of 14 Robert G. Bone Scholars for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Beyond pursuing his own academic successes, Barrera actively seeks ways to support his fellow Redbirds.

"During my time at ISU, the values of Community and Civic Engagement, Learning and Scholarship, and Individualized Attention became deeply ingrained in me," he said.

Barrera has served at the Julia N. Visor Center as a lead content tutor for introductory psychology courses and as a mechanical team member for the award-winning Illinois State University Solar Car Team.

He also participates in the Department of Psychology's Peer Mentorship Program, which aims to foster a sense of community for first-year and transfer students. In January 2025, Barrera also created a Registered Student Organization (RSO), "Psyched for Success!," which provides free, personalized academic support to students studying advanced-level psychology courses. In addition, he is an active member in the Student Psychology Association (SPA) and Psi Chi, an international honor society.

Throughout the course of his four years at Illinois State, Barrera says he discovered a passion for the field of psychology and developed a heart for serving his community.

"Illinois State University took a blank canvas and transformed it into a leader and a life-long scholar," Barrera said.

To learn more, visit Lincoln Academy Illinois.