The 2025 Bonner Fall Network Meeting convened November 10-13 at the Claggett Center in Adamstown, Maryland, bringing together 100 administrators, faculty, and partners from 52 institutions across the Bonner Network. Addressing the theme Rooted in Partnerships, United in Purpose, the gathering provided a space for professional development, strategic planning, and community building as staff and faculty from across the Bonner Network explored how their work with civic learning and community engagement addresses critical challenges facing campuses, communities, and the nation.
Centre College Bonner, Cate Boyette, Reclaims Love of Learning
Centre College Bonner, Cate Boyette, class of 2028, faced an epilepsy diagnosis that challenged her educational path. Seizures, chronic migraines and long stretches spent homebound made school nearly impossible — even requiring her to repeat her junior year. These experiences ultimately deepened her appreciation for education, classmates and teachers.
Lindsey Wilson University Celebrating 20 Years of 'Bonner Love'
Lindsey Wilson University's Bonner Scholars Program celebrated its 20th anniversary, honoring founder Elise Hendrickson Luckey and the program's remarkable impact on the community. Over two decades, 204 Bonner Leaders have contributed more than 380,000 hours of service, generating an economic impact exceeding $11.2 million. The program, anchored by seven core values known as "Common Commitments," has created a culture of "Bonner love" that continues to guide students and alumni in their service work. At the anniversary celebration, Luckey received the inaugural Founder's Tribute Award, and the Elise Hendrickson Luckey Bonner Scholar Endowment was established to support future students.
Committed to Community, Bonners Connect Centre Courses to Social Impact
Centre College's Bonner Program students and faculty are actively addressing homelessness in Danville by assembling emergency kits for those in need, while also contributing to the formation of the Boyle County Homelessness Coalition and a transitional housing project through community-based learning courses.
Fall Bonner Congress 2025: Engage Now, For Our Shared Humanity
The 2025 Fall Bonner Congress brought together approximately 120 Bonner Scholars and Leaders from 60 institutions for a transformative weekend focused on "Engage Now, For Our Shared Humanity." Held at the Loyola University Chicago Retreat & Ecology Center, the event featured intensive strategy sessions where students developed action plans, explored career pathways through the "Purpose to Paycheck" workshop, and connected with graduate school partners and National Bonner Alumni Advisors across eight career sectors. The Congress showcased student-led workshops, a national partner fair, and networking opportunities that empowered participants to translate their civic engagement into marketable skills and sustainable campus program improvements.
Five Bonners Awarded The 2025-2026 Newman Civic Fellowship
Five Bonner students have been nominated for the prestigious Campus Compact 2025–2026 Newman Civic Fellowship, recognizing their exceptional commitment to civic leadership and community engagement. The fellows represent diverse institutions and focus areas including housing insecurity, environmental justice, reproductive rights, and youth political engagement. Their work exemplifies the power of student-led change in addressing critical social issues and building a more equitable society.
Bonner Foundation Welcomes Richard Harrill as New VP for Operations & Strategic Initiatives
The Bonner Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Harrill as its new Vice President for Operations and Strategic Initiatives. He brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership in both the US and Europe, as well as a passion for community engagement that aligns closely with the Foundation's mission and values.
Bonner Network Welcomes Twenty-Five New Community-Engaged Practitioners at 2025 New Staff Orientation
The Bonner Foundation hosted the 2025 New Staff Orientation at Princeton Theological Seminary, welcoming twenty-five new staff and faculty from eighteen higher education institutions to learn about building and managing Bonner Programs, fostering community partnerships, and enhancing community-engaged learning practices.
Alaynna Kriz, Bonner Leader at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University helping to get free health clinic up and running
Alaynna Kriz, a nursing major and Bonner Leader at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, is dedicating her summer to establishing a free health clinic in St. Cloud, which is set to open in August. She is researching community health needs and preparing undergraduate nursing students for their roles at the clinic, aiming to create a beneficial environment for both the clinic and the students involved.
Bonner Celebrates 35 Years during 2025 Summer Leadership Institute at University of Richmond
At the 2025 Bonner Summer Leadership Institute, more than 450 attendees gathered at the University of Richmond from June 15 to 18. This year was especially meaningful as we marked the 35th Anniversary of the Bonner Program. Since its founding in 1990, the Bonner Program has grown from a visionary idea into a vibrant, nationwide movement committed to access to education, community-engaged learning, and social justice.
Bonner's Legacy Project to Encourage Love For The Environment In Future Generations
Olivia Upton '25, a Bonner Leader at the University of Lynchburg, has developed an environmental education curriculum for Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center. As part of her Bonner legacy project and Westover Honors thesis, Upton combines hands-on curriculum development with scholarly research in environmental education. Her work at the nonprofit day camp includes creating educational activities for school field trips and coordinating volunteer experiences. Upton's project not only serves immediate educational needs but also builds capacity for future program expansion at the camp.
W&L Bonner Program: Connecting a Global Movement
At Washington and Lee University, three Bonner students made a significant impact on global healthcare accessibility through an innovative digital mapping project. Working with the Street Medicine Institute (SMI), they developed the first comprehensive international database of street medicine providers. This groundbreaking tool, created under the mentorship of Bonner Program Director Marisa Charley, now helps healthcare professionals worldwide better coordinate care for unsheltered populations. The project exemplifies how student-led initiatives can create meaningful change while inspiring future careers in accessible healthcare.
Five Bonners Selected as 2025 National Bonner Foundation Summer Interns
Meet our 2025 National Bonner Summer Interns! Michael Deem Jr. from Rider University brings his expertise in film and storytelling, while Spelman College's Olivia Gray focuses on advancing educational equity. Oberlin's Joseph (JP) Liddy contributes his experience in event coordination and community building, and Centre College's Kayla Rogers brings her passion for policy advocacy and civic engagement. Together, these talented student leaders will support the Bonner Foundation's mission while gaining valuable professional experience in the nonprofit sector.
Launching a New Resource: Eight Career Sector Pathways
This spring, the Bonner Foundation is excited to launch the eight career sector pathways as a new resource part of the Bonner Career Connections initiative. Intended for students, staff, alumni, faculty, and other career services professionals, these resources aim to aid individuals in their career readiness, find interesting opportunities, and network with professionals and Bonner alumni in their field.
Explore the eight sector pathways, connect with Bonner alumni in these fields, and learn more about the Bonner Career Connections initiative at https://www.bonner.org/career-connections.
Spelman College Bonner Alum, Dr. Maranda C. Ward, Awarded The Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement
Maranda C. Ward, Ed.D., MPH, Spelman College Bonner Scholar ‘02 Alum has been awarded Campus Compact’s Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement. Dr. Ward is the assistant professor and director of the Equity Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
A Banner Year for Bonners: TCNJ Bonner Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary
TCNJ’s Bonner Community Scholars Program launched 20 years ago, it started with just 12 Bonner Scholars — students who commit to 300 hours of community service annually in exchange for needs-based scholarships. Now, with close to 100 participants each year, the TCNJ program is one of the largest and most successful in a nationwide network of Bonner college programs.
Castel Sweet, University of Mississippi, Receives Nadinne Cruz Community Engagement Professional Award
Campus Compact is pleased to announce that Castel V. Sweet, Ph.D., director of community engagement and assistant professor of practice in community engagement at the University of Mississippi, has been awarded Campus Compact’s Nadinne Cruz Community Engagement Professional Award . The award celebrates the ethical leadership and advocacy demonstrated by Community Engagement Professionals. Recipients have demonstrated collaboration with communities focused on transformative change; a commitment to justice-oriented work; and an impact on the larger movement to build ethical and effective community engagement locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
A Message of Hope From Newman Fellow Bonners
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. Fellows are nominated by Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors, who are invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year. As we settle in to 2025 and prepare for the remainder of the academic year, we at Campus Compact wanted to share some voices we know will bring you hope and joy.
Mars Hill University Recognized as one of Top NCAA Schools for Service
Mars Hill University student-athletes’ efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene helped the university to a top-three finish for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence. The award was announced this morning during the NCAA convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Mars Hill was selected as the top school in the South Atlantic Conference on the way to the second runner-up position in the national rankings for outstanding community service, selected by the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
‘Continuing The Dream’: Morehouse College Bonner Office of Community Service Hosts Annual MLK Day of Service
Morehouse College, Bonner Office of Community Service and community partner Target, held an MLK Day of Service, which celebrates the enduring legacy of Dr. King, class of 1948, who developed his philosophy of nonviolent social change during his time at Morehouse under the mentorship of renowned intellectual leaders.
















