Spartan student-athlete Olivia Buzzelli was selected as Aurora University's 2024 Student Laureate by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and was recognized  among top students representing Illinois' colleges and universities during a special ceremony hosted by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois Saturday, October 26 at the University of Illinois Springfield. 

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois selects one student from each four-year university in Illinois to receive the award in honor of their role of leadership and curricular and extracurricular activities that echo Abraham Lincoln's morals of "excellence, service and honor."

Buzzelli has been an exceptional student during her time at Aurora University, maintaining a 4.0 while double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy and Sports Management. She not only engages in the classroom, but is active on campus through various student organizations, serving as a Peer Advisor for the last two years, a captain of the AU women's hockey team, President of the AU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected as a student representative for the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference at the NCAA Convention in Arizona. Buzzelli spearheaded participation in the NACC "Cans Across the Conference" where as a department collected 2,200 nonperishable items to donate to the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and assisted in increasing total number of blankets donated to Waterford Place in Aurora during Project Linus. She serves as a student representative for Senate Athletic Committee, consisting of faculty/staff to mediate academic and athletic concerns, as they arise as well as created and implemented student athlete stoles at this past graduation. Outside of all of her extracurricular activities, she wants to impact the sport world and I know she is going to do amazing things post-graduation.

"I'm incredibly honored to be recognized as Aurora University's Lincoln Laureate," said Buzzelli. "This award is a testament to Lincoln's legacy of leadership and service. I'm inspired to continue working toward positive change for my community and beyond."

Buzzelli and her Spartan women's hockey teammates open the 2024-2025 season on Friday, November 1 when they travel to Bethel University. Opening puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Blaine, Minnesota.