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.
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.
In celebration of Elaine Wheeler's retirement, we honor her invaluable contribution to the Bonner Foundation. Her commitment and mentorship have been instrumental in our growth as a Foundation and the Network we have today. As she embarks on her retirement, we celebrate her legacy of dedication and look forward to the path she has paved for us.
With over three decades sharing campus examples, guides, and documents to download, the Bonner Foundation is excited to announce a recently updated Bonner Resources Wiki.
This summer, the five National Bonner Summer Interns at the Foundation — Anu Baskar (George Mason ‘24), Camila Guayasamin (The College of New Jersey ‘24), Dominique Dore (University of Houston ‘22), Mikaela Chin (High Point University ‘24) and Selah Ndouta (Capital University ‘22) — worked with the Foundation staff to refresh the look of the wiki’s homepage and, more importantly, update campus examples and other documents.
They devoted particularly attention to the Bonner Program Management and Community-Engaged Learning sections. In addition, Mikaela and Dominique also created a short video on how to navigate this wealth of knowledge.
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.
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).
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.
The College Presidents for Civic Preparedness consortium is a collective of diverse higher education leaders dedicated to equipping students with essential civic skills for effective participation in democracy. They focus on three civic commitments: educating for democracy, preparing students for a diverse society, and protecting free inquiry. Centre College President Milton C. Moreland joins the consortium to advance these goals, emphasizing the importance of engaging students in democratic practices and civil discourse.
Montclair State University's "One Square Mile" initiative is making a significant impact on the city of Paterson, New Jersey. The initiative, which aims to advance racial justice, improve health, and foster student achievement, has established numerous programs and partnerships. These include funding for community schools, support for nonprofits, harm reduction efforts, and educational initiatives. The university's commitment to Paterson is long-term and collaborative, with a focus on addressing the city's challenges and creating meaningful change.
Campus Compact announced that Rutgers University-Camden has been awarded Campus Compact’s Richard Guarasci Award for Institutional Transformation. The award recognizes four-year or graduate institutions that have successfully implemented institution-wide efforts to address issues of public concern by aligning teaching, research, practice, and values in service of the common good.
Rutgers University-Camden is recognized as a leading model of holistically embedding civic engagement across every facet of the institution. The University has a rich history with deep engagement with Camden through student success programs, anchor initiatives, and civic engagement, including the Rutgers-Camden Bonner Civic Scholars program. Led by Chancellor Antonio Tillis, Senior Vice Chancellor Nyeema Watson, and, in particular, its Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, Rutgers University-Camden has doubled down on the institution's history in ensuring that civic and community engagement work is resourced and prioritized.
Spelman College in Atlanta is dedicated to enhancing community engagement programs to promote civic responsibility and innovative problem-solving. The college is striving to achieve recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for its community engagement initiatives, including the SpelREADS Literacy Program and the Refugee and Forced Migrations service-learning course. As a leading Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Spelman College believes that community engagement plays a vital role in cultivating leadership skills and empowering students to make meaningful contributions to society.
Sadie Owens is a Bonner Scholar who has contributed significantly to community service projects at school. She discusses how the Bonner program has allowed her to explore her academic and professional interests while impacting the community positively. She praises the diverse Oberlin community for its ideas, insights, and specialized knowledge.
Owens also reflects on the unique and close-knit Bonner Scholar community, fostering intimate conversations and relationships. She fondly remembers the All-Bonner Retreat, where she and others reflected on their growth and development at Oberlin.
Overall, Owens' experiences demonstrate the power of community service to shape individuals' academic and personal growth.
Wilkes University just completed it’s first year of their Bonner Program. This video documents the impact of the program on the participating students, staff, and community partners.
Bonner Scholar Alum, Faith Marable, was recently featured in a segment of Carson-Newman University’s episode on The College Tour TV series. Faith graduated from Carson-Newman in 2021 with a Psychology major. Her hometown is Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In the segment, Faith shares about her experience as a Bonner Scholar at Carson-Newman University and how that’s translated to her career aspirations as a mental health counselor. Faith is currently working as an Admissions Representative while pursuing her a masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Carson-Newman.
The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo has thrived by cultivating relationships with the local community. We serve our community through giving access to higher education, but also through the support we give community projects in our research, volunteerism, and service projects.
UH Hilo is a placed-based university, meaning the importance of place is foremost in our strategic planning efforts now underway. Equally important to us are the relationships we build, which are at the core of everything in education; the most effective teachers are those who can establish rapport and meaningful relationships with students.
One project that really brings place and people together in a powerful way is the Bonner Leadership Program.
Director of the Elizabethtown College Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) Javita Thompson is piloting a service leadership program for incoming first-year Etown students.
The Bonner Leader Program was started by the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation in 1990. The overarching goal is to improve relations between students and communities by bridging the gap between the basic needs of nutrition and educational opportunity.
The Bonner Leader program will become a multifaceted program that allows Etown students to gain leadership skills while performing service initiatives to improve relationships with community organizations. The program is one of many initiatives to help with the College’s strategic plan, specifically the theme of “inclusive excellence.”
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi has its first-ever cohort of Bonner Program students who have started their four-year campaigns to transform their campus and community through service projects.
The university’s Bonner Program, housed at the new UM Center for Community Engagement, is part of a diverse, multistate network of colleges and universities with their own Bonner programs. The program is part of the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, which works to “transform students, communities and campuses through service.”
HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 16, 2021 – High Point University dedicates thousands of hours annually giving back to the community in many ways. The university will now be able to grow its community outreach programs thanks to a generous grant.
Oak Foundation is helping fund the creation of the HPU Center for Community Engagement which is expected to begin operating in the fall. The $5.5-million grant is one of the largest in HPU’s history. The international organization has funded more than 5,400 grants worldwide since it was founded in 1983.
Chevron and Waynesburg University announced today the launch of the Chevron Center for Corporate Social Responsibility at Waynesburg University, a first-of-its-kind center in the region. The center was made possible through a $250,000 commitment from Chevron.
During a press event hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, representatives from Chevron and Waynesburg University shared their excitement about the partnership and provided an overview of the center’s programming.
Our partnership with Waynesburg University underscores our belief that the best way to support the region, now and for decades to come, is to work with community partners to achieve shared goals.”
-Trip Oliver, manager of policy, government and public affairs for Chevron Appalachia
The center will seek to build a network of professionals in the region, encompassing all of southwestern Pennsylvania, and will be dedicated to sharing best practices in corporate social responsibility (CSR) work. As a membership organization, valuable resources will be shared with members to build strong and more valuable CSR programs.
