The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions. Fellows are nominated by their president or chancellor on the basis of their potential for public leadership.
Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides students with training and resources that nurture their assets and passions and help them develop strategies for social change. The yearlong program, named for Campus Compact founder Frank Newman, includes virtual learning opportunities and networking as part of a national network of engaged student leaders and an optional in-person convening.
Campus Compact views the Newman Civic Fellowship as a core component of our strategy to build a national network of engaged student leaders who can support one another in building transformational partnerships between campuses and communities.
Below we have included the personal statement from each of the nine Bonners who are part of the 2022-23 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.
DANIEL CANCRO
Averett University
Psychology: Class of May 2025
I first became engaged with the fight against food disparity when I volunteered with my father at our church giving food to those who were hungry. After seeing how severe of a problem this was in my community, I was driven to continue to pursue equity by joining a volunteer group in which we coordinated canned food drives which resulted in us raising over ten thousand cans of food. During this time, I was also a member of the Winston-Salem Youth Advisory Council. As a member, I was determined to not only combat economic issues but societal issues as well. I assisted in the planning of a retreat in which we worked to build a bond between the local police and the youth from the area. In college, I now volunteer at the Danville Life Saving Crew to combat health disparities in the Dan River Region as a Bonner Leader.
NATHANIEL FISH
Berea College
Economics with a concentration in International Politics and Policy: Class of May 2023
Growing up on farms across the United States and beyond, I saw firsthand the importance of agricultural sustainability, food sovereignty, and being close with one’s food systems. I became passionate about finding ways to improve nutrition systems alongside building local economies. My unusual childhood continually allowed me to meet and befriend other international travelers and farmers. My growing taste for adventure, agricultural justice, and new experiences led me to work as a Rotary Youth Ambassador in India, traveling across India meeting farmers, business leaders, and more. When I moved back to the United States to study International Economics at Berea College, I started working with Grow Appalachia. Here, I focus on helping set up small farmers in Appalachia with the tools to succeed. I also helped found a Rotaract Club on campus focused on international service through which we were able to hold tree planting and reproductive health programs in Siaya, Kenya. I try to approach every problem with the empathy to understand the situation, the diligence to lend a hand as a brother, and the respect of mutual partnership. When we look beyond borders, we can truly understand the transformative nature of returning to the soil and our neighbors.
DEENA HAQUE
Brown University
Health and Human Biology, and Education Studies: Class of 2023
Growing up in a diverse, low-income neighborhood in Queens, I was surrounded by a community with a passion for service and one that strived to serve its residents with humility and empathy. And this passion was something so inherently ingrained in me, it was no surprise that I became involved with the Swearer Center for Public Service once I got to Brown, more specifically the Bonner community fellowship. Through the Bonner program, I work with Clinica Esperanza which is a free clinic that provides healthcare services to uninsured, primarily Spanish-speaking patients. Outside of patient care, the clinic has designed and implemented many programs, such as Vida Sana, which serve as ways to educate patients about healthy lifestyles and proper nutrition. My involvement with the Swearer Center also led me to Health and Education for All (HAEFA) which is a nonprofit providing health care and education-based programs to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Both Clinica Esperanza and HAEFA utilize education as a primary tool for making health knowledge more accessible to marginalized communities. This work has been meaningful to me as these values are something I would like to carry with me in the future communities I serve.
ANNE ZWEBER
College of Saint Benedict
Education: Class of May 2023
Inclusion will change the world. I first learned this by volunteering in a special education classroom when I was twelve. Rather than focusing on their disabilities, I reminded students of their abilities and modeled how they can use them to overcome challenges. This led me to expand my meaning of inclusion by tutoring English Language Learners, where I learned school is not always a safe space for students. Restless with this reality, I created a student-run organization, Building Relationships In Diverse Generations Empowering Equity (BRIDGE), that fights for equitable education and provides a platform for students to share their similarities and celebrate their differences. I carried this passion into college by supporting first generation and low income students pursuing post secondary education. I ensured my students’ access to resources was not the reason they were unable to pursue higher education. In addition, I am a student representative on my school's Inclusive Community Coalition and lead an Interfaith Leadership Team that creates interfaith dialogue and inclusive spaces, no matter one's faith tradition or spirituality. I have witnessed radical change occur when someone belongs and I aspire to continue creating that sense of belonging by sharing our similarities and celebrating our differences.
YAHAIRA GARCIA
Lindsey Wilson College
Business Administration, Emphasis in Entrepreneurial Management: Class of May 2023
My passion for addressing food insecurity on our college’s campus was first stirred when leading a small team of students through poverty research. We launched a survey to assess campus needs and found that a significant amount of students struggled to buy necessary food and hygiene items, both while at college and when returning to their home communities. In response to our findings, our team created a small food and necessities drive called Bob’s Basket, which has now evolved into a permanent student resource. As a leader, I utilize my knowledge of this social issue, as well as the business management practices learned through my studies, to manage volunteers and operations, improve processes, and foster healthy communication both within our team and in collaboration with campus and community partners. As food insecurity is not a static issue, I continually seek out strategic new ways to approach its solution, not only addressing the immediate need for food and hygiene items but also the long-term need for accessible educational resources for healthy lifestyles.
AMIANA GRADY
Maryville College
Health and Wellness Promotion: Class of May 2024
Growing up in a known city, Knoxville, TN, where I was surrounded by violence and poverty changed my perspective. During Middle School, my grandmother created a group with young ladies from my school and community. With this group we did community service all over Knoxville. I carried that with me during my High School career. I was able to take college courses in High School and it helped me realize I wanted to continue to make a difference. Once college came around, I applied to Maryville College and that is when I became a Bonner Scholar. This allowed me to serve with underprivileged children at the Boys and Girls Club. Serving there for a year and a half, I saw many things that needed improvement in children's life. Thus, I was able to have a program with them where they learned about Nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Now I have started a volunteer/ internship with Blount Memorial Wellness Center and I will be working on a project that could decrease obesity in young children. My passion is to give children the life they deserve regardless of social status, so they can have the guidance to become whatever they desire.
SKYE CRONJE
Stetson University
World Languages and Cultures: Class of May 2023
My academic studies, career goals, and community engagement are all intertwined. I study World Languages and Cultures on a Translator Track with Spanish Primary and Arabic Secondary with a triple minor in Latin American and Latino Studies, International Studies, and the Certificate of Community Engagement. Apart from academics, I intern at the Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka, FL, which is an organization that helps undocumented immigrants in Central Florida, which ties in with my language and cultural studies. Because I speak Spanish and enjoy learning different languages, I can communicate with many of the people within these communities. At Hope, I intern with the Immigration team, where I provide direct client support, research immigration policies and processes to educate the community, and assist in preparation and registration for Adelante Caminantes – their program for unaccompanied minors. My internship has provided me with an insight into my passions and my career aspirations: immigrant and refugee rights, advocacy, and language access for underserved communities. In the future, I aspire to do nonprofit work that helps immigrants and refugees – including those by the U.S.-Mexico border.
NICHOLAS CERNIGLIA
Stockton University
Psychology/minor in Art Studio: Class of May, 2023
Civic and community engagement has deeply fueled my interest to stand up against injustices and the skills to collectively create healthier environments. Serving has helped me develop into a social and environmental activist. I served at the Eastern Service Workers Association where I learned the transforming power of experience – it’s easy to talk about injustices, but actually seeing or interrupting injustice is different. This was apparent the first day I went out and handed someone resources used to temporarily prevent tenants from being illegally evicted from their homes. I negotiated complex systems to get very important documentation needed on behalf of people who have been impacted by fires and floods. I learned how to transform any space into a safe space and transform it into a functioning office. I learned how to organize uniquely different communities, and how to stand up and fight for healthier living standards. In my journey from direct service to capacity building, I have learned much about myself and the world. Many of my most profound experiences have happened outside of the classroom, and perspectives are connected to my first-hand experiences. It has not only shaped my education but what I value and believe in.
DELANA TURNER
The University of the South
Politics and American Studies: Class of May 2024
With the desire to uplift and empower marginalized communities, I have taken an active role on Sewanee’s campus through community-building and education projects. As a Bonner Leader, I work with The Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation, an institutional initiative that investigates the University’s racial legacies to honor the local Black community’s contributions to the University. I am the student site leader for the Heritage Trail Project. To support this project, I applied for two grants from the Bonner Foundation to reclaim and commemorate spaces that were lost to the Black community. Once this trail is built, it will be incorporated into curricula that highlight local history. Next, as a Diabetes Education Fellow, I collaborate with other fellows to develop educational techniques to manage and prevent Type 2 Diabetes in the surrounding communities. Similarly, as an educator for the Sewanee Multicultural Health Society, I conduct research and organize dialogues to raise awareness about domestic and international health disparities to reduce these disparities. Cultivating relationships and maintaining lines of communication with the community is central to my work and will be essential in my career working with marginalized groups to achieve their maximum potential through social change.
Other campuses in Bonner Network that had students recognized include: Augsburg University, Bates College, Bellarmine University, Centre College, Colorado College, IUPUI, Oberlin College, Saint John’s University, Spelman College, UNC Charlotte, University of Houston, and University of Richmond.