Former Springfield mayor among honorees to receive Order of Lincoln award

First and only female mayor of Springfield Karen Hasara will be among this year's class of the Order of Lincoln, the state's highest honor for dedication to public service and professional accomplishments.

Hasara, serving as mayor from 1995 to 2003, joins the class of six who will be honored at the annual convocation held on April 29 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Illinois House of Representatives chamber. Members of the 2023 class also include former first lady of Illinois Jayne Thompson and Chicago meteorologist Thomas Skilling.

Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement on Sunday, saying the awarded individuals "embody the very best of Illinois." Since the creation of the Order of Lincoln in 1964, more than 350 residents have received the honor.

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Prior to her time as mayor, Hasara served in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly from 1986 through 1995. She is a 1972 graduate of Sangamon State University, now the University of Illinois at Springfield, where she serves on the board of trustees.

This year's gala will be the first one held in Springfield since 2019. Lincoln Academy of Illinois executive director Leanne Barnhart said paid tickets are not required for convocation, but space will be limited in the House chambers. Sponsorships tickets are available to support the LAI, which can be found on their website at https://thelincolnacademyofillinois.org/.

A dinner will follow the convocation.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, [email protected], twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: First female Springfield mayor set to receive Order of Lincoln honor