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Bhavsar '23 Awarded the Lincoln Academy Student Laureate

November 21, 2022

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Mishwa Bhavsar '23 has been named Illinois Wesleyan’s Student Laureate by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. 

President Georgia Nugent presented Bhavsar with the award on Nov. 18. Bhavsar was honored at the 48th annual ceremony on Nov. 19, hosted on Zoom, by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The Lincoln Academy of Illinois awards one student representative from each four-year university across Illinois in recognition of leadership and service in both their curricular and extracurricular activities that emulate Abraham Lincoln’s values: “excellence, service and honor.”

President Nugent stands with Mishwa Bhavsar '23 who is holding her Lincoln Laureate award certificate
President Georgia Nugent presents Mishwa Bhavsar '23 with her Lincoln Laureate Award from The Lincoln Academy of Illinois on Nov. 18.

“I am honored for being awarded the Lincoln Laureate. I chose Illinois Wesleyan University because I wanted to make a meaningful difference within the college community while developing skills within my major. I think the award is the reflection of all the opportunities I have been provided at IWU,” said Bhavsar.

Bhavsar moved from India to the United States with her family in 2017. She earned an associate degree in science from Helena College University of Montana and transferred to Illinois Wesleyan to pursue a bachelor's degree in computer science. After graduation, Bhavsar plans to work in the software development industry. 

Bhavsar said earning this award has influenced her to dedicate more knowledge and time to spearheading projects and improvements within her community. 

“This award made me realize the importance of leadership and encouraged me to continuously improve my skills to become a better leader that inspires and transforms,” said Bhavsar. 

“Illinois Wesleyan has helped me interact with members of multiple disciplines which helps me learn about a variety of skills and gives me exposure to things I might not have learned within my major, but is vital within life. The number of opportunities and help available at Illinois Wesleyan truly helped me become a better leader.”

Bhavsar is president of IWU’s chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery and she was selected for a grant-funded Digital Humanities Fellowship for the summer of 2022. She also serves as the sustainability commissioner for IWU Student Senate; is co-founder and treasurer of the Transfer Student Organization; president of the Senior Class Committee; and member of The National Society of Leadership and Success. She has completed internships with the Central Illinois Multicultural Leadership Institute, The Ames Library and other organizations. 

By MJ Soria '25