The Dean of Students Office is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Student Leadership Awards. These annual awards recognize Illinois State University students for excellence in student leadership and involvement. Nominations were accepted for the following awards:

• Ritamae Carroll Memorial First-Year Involvement Award recognizes a first-year student (freshman or transfer) who has been an active member of Illinois State’s campus community while staying in good academic standing.
• Mike Schermer Outstanding Student Leader Award recognizes a student who has made significant contributions to the Illinois State community and embodies leadership and excellence. 
• Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award recognizes student leaders who have a history of mentoring and guiding their fellow students and have a passion for creating social change at Illinois State.

This year, nearly 300 nominations were collectively submitted for the awards. Of those nominees, the following four students were selected to receive an award and a monetary scholarship:

Ritamae Carroll Memorial First-Year Involvement Award: Audrey Jayne

Audrey Jayne is a junior transfer student in the Honors Program, double majoring in economics and political science. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to involvement in her first year at Illinois State through her work on the operations staff for the Bone Student Center and as an active participant in a range of academic and service-focused organizations. She is involved with the Illinois State Theatre Outreach Program, where she performed in a children’s show, and is a member of the Pre-Law Club, Philosophy Society, Undergraduate Women in Economics, and the Economics Student Association. She is preparing to study abroad in South Africa, further expanding her academic engagement.

Mike Schermer Outstanding Student Leader Award: Gabriela Ledesma

Gabriela Ledesma is a senior studying international business and business analytics. She has served as president of the International Business Association, co-founder and vice president of the United Nations Association at Illinois State, and as a two-time mentor for the Business Week Program. She is also a Bone Scholar and Student Laureate, and has been actively involved with the American Marketing Association, Spanish Club, and the College of Education. Off campus, she is the founder and president of Lidera Panama and has interned in government affairs at Liberty Latin America.

Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award: Keara Gray

Keara Gray is a senior majoring in public health. She has held numerous leadership and service roles across campus, including president and founder of Devotees to Democracy, Peace Corps Campus Ambassador, and peer leader in the Dean of Students Office. She has participated in three Alternative Breaks, served as a Student Wellness Ambassador, and interned with the Ecology Action Center. Through these roles, she has promoted civic engagement, public health, and inclusive leadership development among her peers.

Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award: Kathleen Lyons

Kathleen Lyons is a junior studying biological sciences with a concentration in physiology, neuroscience, and behavioral studies. She has served as a resident assistant (RA) for the Co-Sciences Themed Living-Learning Community, an RA mentor, and an instructor and teaching assistant for multiple chemistry courses. She is also involved in research through the Bird-Brain Collaborative Group and has held leadership positions in the Association of Residence Halls and the Hewett-Manchester Diversity Coalition. Her efforts focus on mentorship, sustainability, and supporting underrepresented students in STEM.

Award recipients will be formally recognized at the Redbirds Lead Celebration Reception hosted by the Dean of Students Office Leadership Education and Development unit on Friday, April 25, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Aaron Leetch Stadium Club at Hancock Stadium.