University of Illinois Springfield students earned awards and were elected to leadership roles during the Model Illinois Government (MIG) simulation held March 3-6, 2022, at the Wyndham Springfield City Centre in Springfield.
The UIS delegation took home the Outstanding Large Delegation award. This is the fifth time that UIS has won the award since 2014. Given that MIG’s rules prevent a school from winning the award in consecutive years, it means that UIS has brought home the trophy every time students have been eligible since 2014.
Three UIS students were elected to the 2023 MIG executive board. Connor Krater of McHenry was elected governor, Francisco Lopez Zavala of Chicago was elected lieutenant governor and Alex Washkowiak of Wheaton was elected president of the Senate.
The delegation also took home five individual awards. Evan Alexakos of Lake Villa won the Outstanding First Year Delegate in the Senate award, Dejoie Simmons of Chicago won the Outstanding Committee Chair in the Senate award, Joel Lemmert of Dixon earned the Outstanding Committee Person in the House award, Diana Ibarra of Berwyn won the Outstanding Staff Member award and Mackenzi Matthews of Springfield earned the Outstanding Contribution to MIG award.
Five UIS students were elected to legislative positions. Alexakos was elected assistant majority leader in the Senate, Washkowiak was elected majority whip in the Senate, Simmons was elected minority leader in the Senate, Katie Vandenbergh of Witt was elected minority whip in the Senate and Cedric Birgans of Beecher was elected minority whip in the House.
UIS students competed against students from 11 colleges and universities across the state of Illinois. MIG gives them the chance to serve as legislators, staffers, lobbyists, journalists and officials of the executive branch. Through committee actions, a regular legislative session and a veto session, participants learn the legislative process by actively participating in the simulation.
MIG members start preparing legislation during the fall term, polish their parliamentary skills and organize membership into a delegation for the spring conference.
For more information, contact Kenneth Owen, MIG faculty advisor and UIS associate professor of history, at 217-206-7439 or kowen8@uis.edu.