Diane Fuentes ’26 honored as Illinois Student Lincoln Laureate

Diane Fuentes '26 has been named a recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, representing Aurora University as a Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

Each year, the Lincoln Academy honors an outstanding senior from each of Illinois' four-year, degree-granting institutions for excellence in leadership, service, and scholarship - values inspired by Abraham Lincoln's legacy of civic responsibility and integrity.

An Aurora, Illinois, native, Fuentes is pursuing bachelor's degrees in Behavioral Neuroscience, Biology, and Health Science, and minors in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Spanish. While many Pre-Medicine students choose a more streamlined academic path, she has embraced a rigorous, interdisciplinary course of study, demonstrating both her intense passion for learning and her commitment to becoming a representative and advocate for the Latino/Hispanic community in medicine.

Beyond the classroom, Fuentes has gained extensive hands-on experience at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, where she works night shifts supporting multiple departments, including critical care, ICU, ER, and telemetry. Her roles range from patient care technician and telemetry technician to staffing coordinator and house orderly, assisting with patient care and emergency response throughout the hospital. She has also served as a behavior therapist at RUSH Kids Pediatric Therapy Clinic.

She has consistently made an impact in the AU and broader community as an exercise science undergraduate research assistant, a new student mentor, a peer tutor for both AU's Academic Support Center and local high schools, and a Young Hearts for Life volunteer, providing EKGs to high school students.

Her leadership extends to serving as founder and president of the AU Pre-Med/Minority Association for Pre-Medical Students, public relations manager for AU Dream, vice president of Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society), and co-founder of AU STEM Health Alliance. She is also a member of the Exercise Science Club, Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society), and HOSA-Future Health Professionals, where she is a two-time international first-place winner in the healthy lifestyle event.

"This honor reminds me that perseverance and purpose go hand in hand," Fuentes said. "As a first-generation college student, I want to represent my community in medicine and show others that with diligence and discipline, anything is possible. Aurora University has given me the mentorship and opportunities that helped shape who I am today and who I hope to become."

Upon graduation, Fuentes plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician or physician-scientist, exploring fields such as neurosurgery, plastic surgery, cardiology, or emergency medicine. She also hopes to continue contributing to clinical research and one day teach future physicians.

Each fall, The Lincoln Academy awards the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award to one outstanding senior from each of the participating colleges and universities in Illinois. The Student Laureates receive a letter and certificate of merit signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin, and a $1,000 award.