Laureate honor given to former chancellor

By: Hope Morley

Posted: 2/4/08

Syracuse University's Chancellor Emeritus Kenneth "Buzz" Shaw is joining the ranks of former president Ronald Reagan, football player Walter Payton and Poet laureate Gwendolyn Brooks.

Shaw will become a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy, announced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich last week. It is the highest honor for achievement that the state can award to either residents or natives of Illinois.

"I was surprised and pleased," Shaw said with regard to the award. "It means a lot to me because it's so selective and in my home state."

Shaw is one of six laureates that will be inducted into The Lincoln Academy for 2008. A board of 33 general trustees spent three months choosing laureates who excelled in one or more of 10 categories that include science, religion, business, government and sports.

"The winners show overall excellence in their field over a good number of years," said Judy Bartholf, the executive director of the academy. Shaw qualified under the category of education, she said.

"The Medal of Lincoln is the state's highest award," Bartholf said. "It's incredible to see the responses during convocation. It's very meaningful to the recipients."

The Lincoln Academy was founded in 1965 to honor distinguished citizens of Illinois, and it is unique among the 50 states. All recipients must still be living. The only other state with a similar award program is Indiana, but its award is granted posthumously.

Typically, there are between 30 and 35 nominees each year. A friend of Shaw's submitted a nomination in his honor, so he knew this award was a possibility.

"I'm honored she would even consider me," he said.

The nomination process for this year started as early as July 2007, when the Academy called for possible recipients. All nominations had to be submitted by October to allow ample time for the general trustees to fully review all candidates.

Once the trustees choose the laureates, they pass the list on to the governor to make a public announcement. Gov. Blagojevich serves as president of The Lincoln Academy, but is not involved with the nomination or decision process.

The Order of Lincoln Medallion will be officially awarded at a ceremony in April.

Bartholf was quick to praise Shaw's accomplishments as an educator and leader.

"Just being the person that he is, his long, distinguished career in education, what he's contributed in writing, his overall contribution to the field," Bartholf said.

Shaw is proud of what he has done, but sees his accomplishments in a different light. He is most proud of his wife and family, including several grandchildren.

"Once you get this old, you're just proud to still be alive," Shaw joked. "But seriously, being able to have a successful career and a wonderful family makes me very happy. I didn't have to sacrifice anything."

Born in Granite City, Ill., Shaw still considers himself an Illinoisan even after living in New York for the past 17 years.

Shaw said he learned a lot about being a leader from the president of Illinois State University when he was an undergraduate. Shaw counts Robert Bone, who was president at the university at the time, as among his personal role models.

"I could never be the same as him, but I learned an awful lot about how to treat people," Shaw said.

Since earning a doctorate in education, Shaw has served as university leader for the University of Wisconsin, Southern Illinois University, Towson State University and SU. He also published two books and more than 40 articles on education and leadership.

"I think good leaders are self-aware and know their strengths and weaknesses," Shaw said. "I think I know myself pretty well."

He also received eight honorary degrees.

"I'm absolutely lucky," Shaw said. "I had luck and was willing to take risks."

hemorley@syr.edu