Staff Profile
Robert Hackett
From the Heart of The Bonner Foundation: Elaine ...

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.

From the Heart of The Bonner Foundation: Elaine Wheeler's Retirement Celebration
Robert Hackett
Announcing the Refreshed Bonner Wiki

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.

Announcing the Refreshed Bonner Wiki

Student Profile

Padilla Selected for THEC Service Award

Padilla Selected for THEC Service Award

Stacey Padilla, a 2015 graduate of Maryville College, is among five college students in Tennessee to be named recipient of the 2015 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award sponsored by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).

Named for the late state representative from Nashville who was instrumental in passing legislation for community service recognition programs for higher education in 1991, the award recognizes outstanding community service at the campus level and carries a $1,000 cash prize.

Bonner Scholar Espouses Political Engagement as Key to a Healthy Democratic Society

Bonner Scholar Espouses Political Engagement as Key to a Healthy Democratic Society

Students listened to election returns and debated the pros and cons of Democratic and Republican candidates during the on-campus Super Tuesday viewing party on March 1, 2016. Sporting an “I voted” sticker, Brenden Carol, ’17, moved among them, pleased with the turnout for an event he organized in his role as a student coordinator of politics and elections for the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE).

“Trump dominated students’ discussion during the viewing party,” Carol said. “None of the students in either political party was happy about his front-runner status.”

Despite the prevailing angst, Carol delighted in seeing students take an interest in politics. He hopes to increase political activism on campus.

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Bonner Student was Finalist for 2012 Global Citizenship Student Award

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Bonner Student was Finalist for 2012 Global Citizenship Student Award

Macalester has long been known for its internationalism. One of the ways it recognizes that value is to annually bestow a Global Citizenship Student Award on the graduating senior who best demonstrates a commitment to the ideals and practice of high academic performance, internationalism, multiculturalism, and civic engagement.

Perez Leaves Lasting Impact on Campus Community

Perez Leaves Lasting Impact on Campus Community

Maryville College senior José Perez has transformed from a terrified freshman unsure of his place at Maryville College into a social justice advocate who has made a lasting impact on the MC community.

Perez, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree on May 17, is a first-generation college student and a Mexican-American from an immigrant family.

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Bonner Student Receives Campus Awards

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Bonner Student Receives Campus Awards

     Steven Hollingshead, a senior from Memphis, has been named “Student of the Block” for the eighth block at Tusculum College and is also the recipient of the inaugural “Mr. TC Award.”
     Hollingshead, a double major in political science and business with concentrations in economics and international business, was presented both honors prior to the beginning of the May 2 Pioneer baseball game.
     The “Student of the Block Award” is presented by the Tusculum Office of Student Affairs and was established to recognize individuals who excel in their academic endeavors, campus involvement and/or athletic performance. The award is selected from nominations made by faculty and staff members. Plaques telling about the honorees are displayed in the Niswonger Commons and other campus buildings. The new “Mr. TC Award” recognizes a student for overall contributions to the campus community and dedication to the betterment of the college as well as outstanding involvement, service and leadership inside and outside the classroom.

LWC Student Serves as Intern for Forward in the Fifth

LWC Student Serves as Intern for Forward in the Fifth

Krystal Goode, a sophomore at Lindsey Wilson College, spent the summer interning with Forward in the Fifth at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, KY.

An elementary education major with the goal of teaching in a kindergarten classroom, Goode spent nearly three months with the non-profit education organization working on several initiatives designed to improve teaching and learning.

Lynchburg Student to Complete Summer Research in Human Emotions

Lynchburg Student to Complete Summer Research in Human Emotions

     Emily Horton plans to spend part of her summer working on research about human emotions thanks to a competitive Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
     Emily will spend about two months at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where scientists are studying emotion using data recorded about the facial expressions research subjects made while watching films.

Changing Lives Through Teaching

Changing Lives Through Teaching

Family.

It’s what DuChante Davis has found more than anything in his educational journey at High Point University. It’s what he hopes to offer inner city school children he’ll teach this fall.

He just returned from visiting San Jose, California, where he met some of his future students that already remind him of himself at that age – children who come from families in challenging situations. Kids who need more real-life heroes to look up to and keep them on track.

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Stetson's Duguay Named a 2016 Newman Civic Fellow

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Stetson's Duguay Named a 2016 Newman Civic Fellow

Taylor Duguay, a junior political science and communications studies double-major at Stetson University, is the recipient of the 2016 Newman Civic Fellows Award. As a Newman Civic Fellow, Duguay is one of 218 students recognized as the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. Through service, research, and advocacy, Newman Civic Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

Olivia Bailey Talks About Her Communications Internship with CNN

Olivia Bailey Talks About Her Communications Internship with CNN

Olivia Bailey’s dream of becoming a reporter began with “The Funky Monkey,” the school newspaper she created and distributed during fifth grade. As a student enrolled in Emory & Henry’s mass communications department, she is a step closer to reaching her lifelong goal.

Stetson Honors Top Students and Faculty at Undergraduate Awards Ceremony

Stetson Honors Top Students and Faculty at Undergraduate Awards Ceremony

At its Undergraduate Awards and Recognition Ceremony, Stetson University announced the recipients of two of its most prestigious awards: the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards, presented to two members of the graduating class; and the John Hague Award for Distinguished Teaching in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, given to a faculty member.

Chattanooga Student Recognized During Honors Convocation

Chattanooga Student Recognized During Honors Convocation

Student excellence in academics and service were recognized during Tusculum College’s annual Honors Convocation Thursday, April 28.

Megan Buczek of Chattanooga was presented with two awards. Ms. Buczek received a Senior Honor Key Award in special education modified and comprehensive. Senior Honor Key Awards are presented to students who have earned a 3.25 grade point average or higher in their major, shown achievement and aptitude in the major and possess strong character.    

Bonner Scholar Presents at TEDx

Bonner Scholar Presents at TEDx

Stetson University will host the annual TEDx event, Friday, March 18, at 4 p.m. in Allen Hall, 508 N. Woodland Blvd., on the DeLand campus. TEDx is a subsidiary of the world-renowned TED organization which holds conferences relating to Technology, Entertainment and Design on a local scale...Probus is a religious studies major at Stetson. She is actively involved in campus life as a member of the Stetson Bonner Program, Stetson University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra and the Stetson Center for Community Engagement, to name just a few organizations. Probus’ talk will focus on leadership skills.

Bonner Student Receives Critical Language Scholarship

Bonner Student Receives Critical Language Scholarship

Jessica Gumucio '16 and Mohammed (Jake) El Sarhan '18 received Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) from the U.S. Department of State to study critical needs languages this summer. Gumucio will study Russian in Vladimir, Russia and El Sarhan will study Arabic in Madaba, Jordan.

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Tusculum Student Named Newman Civic Fellow

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Tusculum Student Named Newman Civic Fellow

Denise Coffey, a student at Tusculum College, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow for 2015. Coffey has provided almost 500 community service hours to ASafeHarborHome, a local agency that serves victims of domestic violence and supplies them with safe homes.
The Newman Civic Fellows Award honors inspiring college student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Coffey is one of 201 people to be named a 2015 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact.

Guilford Student: An Inspired Leader

Guilford Student: An Inspired Leader

Less than six years ago, José Oliva ’17 lived with his grandparents in Tiucal, a rural village in Guatemala.

His mother had moved to the U.S. to work in the textile industry when he was a baby. Few people in his hometown attended high school, and fewer still had the opportunity to go to college. He didn’t speak English.

Today, José thrives at Guilford. He served the College as the first Latino president of Community Senate during his sophomore year, and he has served the wider community by educating hundreds of high school students — immigrants and the children of immigrants — about the college application process.

New Bonner Scholars Engage in Summer Service Project

New Bonner Scholars Engage in Summer Service Project

For the ninth year in a row, rising first-year Centre College Bonner students visited Caretta, W. Va., for an annual service trip. While helping to improve living conditions in the town during their June visit, the new Bonner Scholars joined the impressive group of more than 85% of Centre students who volunteer on a regular basis.

Centre’s Bonner Program is a network of 60 students on campus (and thousands nationwide) dedicated to alleviating poverty and improving education through active community service and civic engagement. For Director of Community Service and the Bonner Program Matthew Klooster, the first-year summer experience is also an important opportunity for student growth.

Bonner Scholar Encourages Identity-Building through Storytelling in Brazil

Bonner Scholar Encourages Identity-Building through Storytelling in Brazil

“I was pre-med since age 12,” says Jhewel Fernandez, ’14.

As a Bonner Scholar, Fernandez met with her University of Richmond advisor and, like all students on a pre-med track, was encouraged to choose a clinic or public health-related service site for the program’s community-service commitment.

But Fernandez’s advisor gave her one additional piece of advice that changed her life. After recognizing her interest in social sciences and experience working with children, he suggested she try two service sites — a clinic and a school. Within weeks, she knew the clinic environment wasn’t for her.

Clean Peace: Student Creates Jobs for Youths in Ethiopia

Clean Peace: Student Creates Jobs for Youths in Ethiopia

With a $10,000 grant and an idea Telavive Taye '17 returned to her childhood home of Hawassa, Ethiopia, to create an enterprise she hoped would promote peace and prosperity.
The recipient of a Projects for Peace grant from the Davis United World Scholars Program, Taye established a car wash managed completely by and for youth, with the goal of engaging them in a productive business in a growing city with high rates of unemployment. In fact, official estimates place the country's rate of youth unemployment at more than 50 percent.

 

 

Bonner Scholar Explores Climate Change in the South Pacific

Bonner Scholar Explores Climate Change in the South Pacific

Imagine awakening just before dawn to the sounds of roosters crowing and waves breaking on the shore just outside your cottage. Coffee mug in hand, you stroll out your front door onto a pristine, sandy beach to watch a magnificent South Pacific sunrise.

A dream vacation? Not exactly. For Emily Onufer, '17, such was the start of a typical day this past summer when she interned with the environmental nongovernment organization Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.