Carl Sandburg student named top Illinois community college scholar
Kaden Pickard once doubted college was the right path after earning a grade point average below 2.0, but the Carl Sandburg College student is now being recognized as the top community college student in Illinois. Pickard, 23, of Galesburg has been named the Illinois community college Student Laureate by lincolnacademyillinois.org , according to a community announcement. The distinction recognizes one graduating student to represent Illinois' entire community college system in addition to student laureates selected from the state's four-year colleges and universities. “There are 45 community colleges in Illinois and 600,000 students enrolled in those colleges,” Pickard said. “Those are 600,000 other students who could have been nominated, could have won the award, and it's me. It's surreal.” Pickard was honored at an award program Oct. 24 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield. The recognition includes the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin and a $1,000 check. He is the second Sandburg student to earn Student Laureate honors. Zana Danner received the recognition in 2018. From struggling student to award winner Pickard enrolled at Sandburg after graduating from Galesburg High School in 2021 and entered the college's basic industrial manufacturing maintenance program. The experience
