CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute announced today (May 20) four recipients of the 2025 Paul Simon Democracy Prize.
The institute is awarding four $5,000 prizes to current students at Illinois colleges and universities for designing and implementing projects aimed at revitalizing democracy in their communities.
The winners are:
- Tatiana Castillo from SIU Carbondale. She will chronicle the contributions of the international community to democratic life in Southern Illinois over the past five years. The project will culminate in a public event showcasing these contributions and encouraging a discussion of democracy and inclusion.
- Winter Hurst-Leadicker of Western Illinois University in Macomb will work to add a referendum to the city’s ballot to implement a ranked-choice voting system, replacing the current first-past-the-post electoral system.
- Ben Muncy from Illinois State University in Normal will set up voter registration tables on campus to help students register to vote or update their existing registration, with the goal of making voting more accessible and representative of where students actually live.
- Raluca Pavel from Loyola University in Chicago. She will create and implement an upper-level undergraduate course designed as an experiential learning opportunity for students to explore democratic participation, civic responsibility and policy engagement, with an emphasis on participatory budgeting.
John Shaw, institute director, said he’s encouraged by the participants’ compelling proposals.
“We received fantastic proposals, which confirm that students are determined to find creative and constructive ways to revitalize our democracy,” Shaw said. “We hope the Paul Simon Democracy Prize will help inspire students to improve their communities and ultimately preserve our democracy.”
The institute invited proposals that were persuasive and imaginative, with the condition that they must have a realistic chance of being implemented within six months. Submissions were made in the form of short videos.
The four winning videos are now featured under each of the winner’s names on the institute’s website and YouTube channel. The prize recipients will present their progress during a virtual event in early 2026, sharing how their proposals are being brought to life.
The Paul Simon Democracy Prize was launched by the institute in 2023. Shaw said the institute has established three programs to underscore Simon’s commitment to better government and smarter politics: the Paul Simon Democracy Prize, the Renewing Illinois Summit for Illinois college and university students and the Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award in Illinois state and local government.
“These three programs reflect the highest ideals and most inspiring values championed by Paul Simon,” Shaw said.
Complete details of the Paul Simon Democracy Prize and its winners are available on the institute’s website.
After serving as a state legislator and lieutenant governor, Simon was in Congress for 10 years, followed by two terms in the U.S. Senate. After leaving public office in 1997, he returned to his Southern Illinois roots and established the then-Public Policy Institute at SIU Carbondale. The institute was renamed to honor Simon’s legacy after his death in December 2003.
The institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank promoting better politics and smarter government and preparing young people for careers in public service.
Media contact:
William Becque, marketing associate, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, 618-453-4009
