Here’s what it’s like to spend the summer as an intern for Outright Lewiston/Auburn, an organization that creates safe and affirming environments for area youths, 14 to 21, who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning.
Oberlin Shansi Awards In-Asia Study Grants
This winter term, three first-years and one second-year student will have the opportunity to pursue independent study and creative projects as recipients of the Oberlin Shansi In-Asia Grant.
The award provides $1,500 to support individual initiatives east Asia, southeast Asia, or south Asia, including internships with non-governmental organizations, art explorations, environmental research, or other projects during winter term or summer. The award is open to first- through third-year students.
Jodie Geddes '14: "Without Fear"
Jodie Geddes, a native of Jamaica, spoke on behalf of the Class of 2014 at Commencement on May 17.
Jodie came to Guilford from in Brooklyn, N.Y, and she graduates with a degree in community and justice studies and a minor in education. She feels called to create change in her community; as a Bonner Scholar she found herself while working with refugees and immigrants in the Triad. She will be entering graduate school at Eastern Mennonite University in order to pursue a degree in conflict transformation.
Xzavier Killings '16: Getting Better Every Day
Xzavier Killings '16 doesn't settle for anything less than his best effort, and he constantly strives to contribute more to the Davidson community. The senior biology major, track and field captain and 2015 homecoming king from Roebuck, S.C. recently broke the school record in the long jump–just one of the many ways he will leave a legacy on campus long after commencement.
In addition to his passion for athletics, community service is a cornerstone of Killings' life on campus. As a Bonner Scholar, he performs 280 hours of community service per year, averaging 10 hours per week on top of already demanding academic and athletic commitments. He served as Davidson's congressional representative for the national Bonner Scholars program, attending a national conference and engineering new civic engagement programs at Davidson.
Economics Major Using Data to Combat Poverty and Suffering
Ancito Etienne ’17 is spending the summer gathering data, crunching numbers, and making the case for public investment in hunger relief and conflict resolution around the world.
He has a summer internship with Mercy Corps, an international aid organization that helps people whose lives have been impacted by global conflict. Mercy Corps’ Policy and Advocacy team will use Ancito’s research to advocate for reform in food aid and peacebuildng activities.
Hunger Games Entertains For A Good Cause
A lot of preparation went into the Berea Hunger Games last month which was the first of what will be an annual fundraising event dedicated towards raising funds for Syrian refugee relief. According to Matt Walker, senior Bonner Scholar who has been working on the event since last year, “We tried to incorporate fundraising and awareness-raising into events that we know that a lot of people can get interested in.” Walker added, “We are trying to reach out to that crowd that might not think they are really invested in social justice issues and show them that they can be.” Walker and his colleagues were pleased to raise over $500 from the entire event.
Ben Randazzo Honored for Community Service
North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities committed to community engagement, has recognized Ben Randazzo ’16 for his outstanding leadership and service.
Ben has received the 2015 Community Impact Award, an honor given to one student leader at each school in the network.
As a Bonner Scholar, Ben has been a leader and an advocate for service. In 2014 he served as lead coordinator for the National Bonner Congress held at Guilford College, a role that led to a summer position at the Bonner Foundation in Princeton, N.J. In the absence of a staff coordinator, he has recently taken on even more responsibility for the Guilford Bonner program.
Bennett '16 Wins Prestigious Truman Scholarship, Public Policy Fellowship
Rashaun Bennett '16 has received two nationally competitive fellowships that will further support his aspirations for a career in public policy. Selected from more than 600 applicants, he is among 58 winners of a Harry S. Truman Scholarship and is the fifth Davidson student to receive the award in the past eight years. He joins Richmond Blake (2008), Darrell Lamont Scott (2009), Alexandra Francis (2011) and Haley Hardie (2014).
Centre Student Teachers Learn Lessons Across the Nation and Around the World
Davidson Artistic Connection Enlivens Elementary School
Dec. 3 was a big day at Allenbrook Elementary School in Charlotte. The school hosted its first-ever student art show, and unveiled a large wall mural created through Davidson College connections. Bonner Scholar Morgan Mercer '18 worked at Allenbrook last summer as an Education Scholar. Among other duties, the school administration asked her to envision ways of "enhancing student culture." Mercer settled on the idea of a large wall mural, and obtained a Bonner Community grant to fund the project. Mercer's friend Stuart Robertson '15, who last year painted a large mural in the Alvarez College Union, agreed to work on the Allenbrook mural as well.
Bonner Scholars Program Wins Grant to Start Community Kitchen
The Lindsey Wilson College Bonner Scholars Program has won an online contest to help its members fund and operate a kitchen to serve the area's needy.
Lindsey Wilson learned Monday afternoon that it won an online contest held March 7-14 for a grant from the Campus Kitchens Project, a national organization that empowers student volunteers to fight hunger in their community. Lindsey Wilson will receive $6,000 to start a kitchen that will be housed at Columbia United Methodist Church.
The kitchen will begin serving two or three meals a week to area needy residents sometime in September, according to LWC Director of Civic Engagement Amy Thompson-Wells.
LaunchU Awards Top Prizes
As in life, business often comes down to just a few moments. For a small throng of budding Oberlin student and alumni entrepreneurs, or “Oberlineurs,” one such moment happened in the Bertram and Judith Kohl Building on January 31.
The entrepreneurs participated in the third annual LaunchU venture accelerator and pitch competition. Evolved out of Oberlin’s signature Creativity & Leadership Program, LaunchU provides resources, training, advisors, connections, and investment capital to help start, accelerate, and grow Oberlin student, alumni, and faculty ventures.
Behind the scenes at Churchill Downs: Jeri Howell ’16 interns with Backside Learning Center
Jeri Howell, a Spanish major at Centre College, is spending her summer getting to know some of these workers through an internship at the Backside Learning Center (BLC), a non-profit organization created to enhance the lives of backside workers at Churchill Downs through education, life skill resources and community-building.
Biology Major receives Max Cleland Award for Excellence in Public Service
‘Hero’ is a Greek word meaning “to protect and serve.” Stetson University has had her share of heroes and that service is at the core of the spirit that connects Max Cleland ‘64, Stetson’s Bonner Program and senior biology major John Massey, the second recipient of the Max Cleland Award for Excellence in Public Service.
From Rwanda to Wofford to the future
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – When Yves Engelmann got his acceptance letter to Wofford College, the young man from Rwanda who had never stepped foot in South Carolina – much less onto the Wofford campus – read it in disbelief. That was nothing compared to when he read the subsequent letter from the college’s Bonner Scholars program telling him his entire four-year college career would be paid for in full.