Greenville University’s Norah Atkins Named 2025 Lincoln Laureate

Published: October 28, 2025

Author: Liz Dowell

Greenville University Senior Norah (Swinigan) Atkins, a dual major in medical biology and pre-nursing, was named an Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Student Laureate on October 18.

The honor, presented by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, recognizes outstanding seniors and upper-division students from Illinois colleges who exemplify leadership, service, and academic excellence.

Professor Andrea Andris, who nominated Atkins, describes her as someone who “is always serving others well and cares deeply.”

On campus, Atkins had previously led Vespers, GU’s student-led worship service, helping to create a space where students encounter God and one another in authentic community. Beyond campus, she mentored middle school girls through First Christian Church, guiding them in their faith and confidence.

Her professors see the same selfless spirit in the classroom and in the course. A member of Greenville’s cross-country and track-and-field teams, Atkins balances early-morning training with the demands of a rigorous science schedule.

Professor Jane Bell calls her “a winner in many areas,” praising her “grace, hard work, and strong faith in Jesus Christ”—qualities that make her, Bell says, “an outstanding example of the Lincoln Laureate.”

Building a Foundation for Healing

Atkins’s path to nursing began in childhood, when her baby brother’s medical challenges introduced her to the compassion of healthcare workers. “Seeing the care my brother received made a lasting impact on me,” she recalls. “I knew then that I wanted to provide that same level of comfort for others.”

That calling grew stronger when Greenville University launched its dual-enrollment agreement with Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing in 2024.

Through the partnership, students complete two years at GU and two years at Goldfarb’s St. Louis campus, earning both a Bachelor of Science in medical biology and a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

For Atkins, the program offered a bridge between her academic passions and her desire to serve.

“What I love about GU is how much the professors care about us as individuals,” she says. “They’re not just teaching content—they’re investing in us as future leaders.”