The Samuel K. Gove Illinois Legislative Internship Hall of Fame is named for the late Samuel K. Gove, founding director of the internship program and one of the founders of Illinois Issues magazine. This Award, initiated by Illinois Issues magazine, recognizes former state legislative interns whose subsequent careers have been marked by outstanding public service. Established in 1990, the Hall of Fame, including this year’s inductees, now numbers 81 individuals, among them a former governor and several former and current state and federal legislators. The names of the Hall of Fame’s members are inscribed on a plaque that hangs on the fourth floor of the Illinois Statehouse.

 2025 Inductees

Phil Draves

Phil Draves began his ILSIP internship in the Fall of 1988, leading to a decades-long career in public service. Mr. Draves worked for more than 30 years on staff for the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus. He held the roles of Floor Director and Deputy Chief of Staff. In 2015 he was named Chief of Staff for Leader Christine Radogno and then served her successor, Bill Brady. Mr. Draves retired in December 2019 after 32 years of distinguished service.

Andrew Freiheit

Andrew Freiheit joined the ILSIP intern class of 1993-94, working for the House Republicans. He is the former Chief of Staff to the Illinois House Republican Caucus, working under Leaders Jim Durkin and Tony McCombie, and was previously the Chief Counsel and Ethics Officer. From 2007 to 2015 he was on the House Republican staff and advised on the Illinois redistricting plan. Mr. Freiheit served as Vice Chair for the National Conference of State Legislatures' Elections and Redistricting Committee, earning a national reputation. From 1999 to 2006 Mr. Freiheit was Chief of Staff to Commissioner Maureen Murphy of the Cook County Board of Review; he also served as a policy director and First Assistant Commissioner. Mr. Freiheit was the Research Director for The Civic Federation, a non-partisan government research organization based in Chicago, from 1997 to 1999. Before that, he worked as a House legislative and appropriations analyst. Outside of work, Mr. Freiheit was an active volunteer and fundraiser for animal rescue shelters across Illinois. He holds a degree in political science from North Central College in 1993 and earned his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2007.

Brian Hopkins

Brian Hopkins' career in public service started with an ILSIP internship in 1988-89, working for the Appropriations Committee in the Illinois State Senate. He is a member of the Chicago City Council, first elected in 2015, and is the current Chair of the Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 2nd Ward, which includes the Gold Coast, Streeterville, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Clybourn Corridor, and River North neighborhoods. As the 2nd Ward Alderman, his priorities include environmental and sustainability initiatives. He serves on the Lakeshore Planning Committee, whose aim is to add more green space and public parkland to Chicago's lakefront. Alderman Hopkins also fights to protect constituents from health risks associated with environmental contamination at former industrial sites. Prior to his election, he served as Chief of Staff to Cook County Commissioner and Finance Committee Chairman John P. Daley. He served two terms as President of the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents. He is also a former Director of the Illinois Coalition to End Homelessness and was an adviser to President Bill Clinton's transition team on addressing homelessness as a national issue. Alderman Hopkins earned a Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Steve McClure

Steve McClure is an Illinois State Senator representing the 54th District in the central part of the state. He is the Assistant Leader and Assistant Floor Leader in the Senate Republican Caucus. A Springfield native, Senator McClure and his family have a long history of public service. As an ILSIP intern in 2006-07, he worked for the Senate Republican Caucus where he analyzed budgets on the appropriations staff. After graduating from law school, he accepted a position as an assistant state's attorney in the Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office. As a juvenile prosecutor, he was dedicated to protecting children from abusive parents, rehabilitating delinquent youth, and providing assistance to children with chronic absences. Senator McClure was promoted to chief of the Juvenile Division and later went on to serve in the Felony Division, where he prosecuted a variety of criminal cases and focused on those involving attempts to take financial advantage of senior citizens. In 2017 he resigned from the State's Attorney's Office to run for the state Senate and was elected in 2018. Senator McClure has passed bills to help with public school teacher and bus driver shortages and the COVID-19 student learning gap. He also passed legislation to protect citizens from internet exploitation and to provide more job opportunities for veterans. Senator McClure serves on the Senate Executive Appointments Committee and is the Republican leader on the Licensed Activities Committee. He holds two Bachelor's degrees (one in history and one in political science) from Arizona State University, a Master's in political studies from the University of Illinois Springfield, and a law degree from Valpraiso University School of Law.

Laura Zaremba

Laura Zaremba served as an ILSIP intern in 1993-94, where she worked for the Legislative Research Unit under the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. She is a Principal at Health Management Associates, an independent national research and consulting firm in the healthcare industry. Ms. Zaremba began her career in healthcare as a legislative associate with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. In 1999 she joined the Office of the Illinois State Comptroller, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Local Government. In 2006 she became Deputy Director at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, where she oversaw operations of the state's Medicaid and child support enforcement agency. Ms. Zaremba led the drafting and enacting of the Illinois Health Information Exchange and Technology Act, which established statewide service available to healthcare providers to exchange health information and transmit public health data. She served at the Illinois Office of Health Information Technology from 2010 to 2014, and was designated by the Governor as the state's Health Information Technology Coordinator. Ms. Zaremba has served on the board of the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority, Illinois Rural HealthNet, and the Governor's Healthcare Reform Implementation Council. From 2014 to 2018 she was a Senior Principal at Trexin Consulting, before accepting her current position at Health Management Associates. Ms. Zaremba earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in political science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

• 2024 Inductees: Brad Bolin, Lisa Clemmons Stott, Sydney Holman, Scott D. Humbard, and Anthony Rossi
• 2019 Inductees: David B. Menchetti, John D. Nicolay, and Kevin Schoeben
• 2017 Inductees:  Mark Denzler, Marcilene Dutton, DeShana L. Forney, and David A. Joens
• 2015 Inductees:  Donovan Pepper, Julie Morrison, Becky Patton, Phil Lackman, and Tim Nuding.
• 2013 Inductees:  Cheri L. Bustos, Scott L. Kaiser, Mona B. Martin, Scott A. Reimers, and David A. Sykuta.
• 2011 Inductees:  David E. Kennedy, Bruce C. Kinnett, Michael C. Maibach, Catherine M. Shannon, and Frank Straus.
• 2009 Inductees:  John Day, Claire Eberle, Stephen Pacey, Lee Schwartz, and Gretchen Winter.
• 2007 Inductees:  Rodger Heaton, Vicki Thomas, and Thomas Wagner
• 2005 Inductees:  Richard E. Dunn, Neil F. Flynn, Terry A. Scrogum, Debra K. Smitley, and Clive M. Topol.
• 2003 Inductees:  David A. Epstein, Brian McFadden, Peg Laird Mosgers, and Judith A. Redick
• 2001 Inductees:  Terri L. Coombes, Brenda J. Holmes, James C. Jepsen, Richard W. Larison, and David W. Olien
• 1999 Inductees:  Kurt M. Granberg, John R. Headrick, Robert H. Newtson, and Marcia E. Thompson
• 1997 Inductees:  Kurt R. DeWeese, Michael P. Duncan, William S. Hanley, and Lori Spear Montana
• 1995 Inductees:  Prescott E. Bloom, Timothy R. Campbell, Allen D. Grosboll, and Linda M. Wheeler
• 1993 Inductees:  Kirk W. Dillard, Lawrence N. Hansen, H. Carter Hendren, and Linda K. Kingman
• 1990 Inductees:  Wayne R. Andersen, Terry L. Bruce, Richard J. Carlson, Richard W. Carlson, Jim Edgar, James L. Fletcher, William G. Holland, Douglas N. Kane, M. Veronica Lynch, Sylvia Davis Thompson, and Paul L. Williams.