NIU congratulates Joseph C. (J. C.) La Barbera on being named a Lincoln Laureate for 2025. The Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award honors the accomplishments of NIU’s top graduating students; the award is given annually to an outstanding senior from each of the four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois.
J. C. La Barbera
La Barbera is a senior, honors student majoring in mechatronics engineering at NIU and working as an engineering intern at Swenson Spreader. He is an Honors Fellow and helps advise his fellow honors students toward their own success.
La Barbera’s research projects include “Designing a Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller for Applications in Automatic Control” and “Brain-Controlled Motorized Wheelchair: Enhancing Mobility Through BCI Technology” which he presented at NIU’s Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
La Barbera is the newly elected president of the NIU Mars Rover Team and is the vice chair of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Student Advisory Committee. Additionally, La Barbera is a trumpet section leader for the Huskie Marching Band and president of NIU’s tenor-bass a cappella group, The Huskie Hunks. La Barbera also serves as president of the Kappa Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi band service fraternity.
”The Huskie community is built on stepping up to the challenge, taking charge, helping one another, and changing the world. These foundations are what make NIU great, and are why the university shines across the region, the state and the country,” La Barbera said. “This culture of building up one another is what drew me to NIU as a freshman four years ago and has been a constant inspiration for me throughout my college journey. As such, I am incredibly honored to be selected as NIU’s Lincoln Student Laureate, an award designed to embody the commitment to leadership and service on which our campus culture is based.”
J. C. Barbera and his mother, Isabel, who also is a Lincoln Laureate
La Barbera joined fellow Student Laureates at a special ceremony hosted by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois Saturday, Oct. 18 on the campus of the University of Chicago. Each Student Laureate received the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy.
“I am so thankful to all of the people who have supported me throughout the nomination and selection process, including my parents, my professors, my friends and the wonderful staff at University Honors,” La Barbera said.
Peter Lin, visiting professor in the mechatronics engineering program at NIU, nominated La Barbera for this honor.
“J. C.’s extraordinary academic talents were very visible early on, particularly in applying mechatronics and biology-inspired neural networks to solve complex motion control problems,” Lin said. “Additionally, J. C. has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to serving the NIU community through leadership, music, and service organizations. J. C. has consistently embodied service, leadership and advocacy, making a lasting impact on the NIU community and beyond.”
Congratulations to J. C. La Barbera on becoming a Lincoln Laureate! Also, congratulations to all nominees: Rebecca Katz, Gina Fiorenza, Marinelle Ortega, Natalie Cassady, Vana Dakarian, Zoe Zwolen, and Shea Walter. La Barbera and all nominees will be recognized during a reception Thursday, Oct. 23 on NIU’s campus.
