Six schools in the Bonner Network were recognized in the 2024 cycle for the Carnegie Classification: Bates College, Bellarmine University, High Point University, Rutgers University-Camden, Siena College, and Washington & Lee University. Read more about High Point University, Bellarmine University, and Rutgers University-Camden, and Washington & Lee University’s achievements in their press releases.

This recognition is awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is a significant acknowledgment of an institution's dedication to making a positive impact beyond the campus. Each recipient goes through a rigorous self-study process to demonstrate their community engagement efforts. Over the past 19 years, the classification has become a leading framework for assessing and recognizing community engagement in higher education.

Josefina M. Ewins, originally from Sicklerville, New Jersey is a graduate of the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program. She is a New Jersey Governor’s Fellow, a former Bonner Civic Scholar, and TriO Scholar. Driven by a passion for understanding policies that impact students and their higher education, she works with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education as a Policy Fellow, to improve the experience and outcomes for New Jersey students.

Katie Yurechko, a computer science and philosophy double major at Washington and Lee University, has been selected as a Marshall Scholar for the 2024 class. She will pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford and University College London, focusing on combating algorithmic injustice and unjust social media algorithms. Yurechko has a strong commitment to equity and justice in technology and plans to use computer science to explore issues of equity in social media. She has extensive research experience, is involved in various campus organizations, and has received numerous honors and scholarships.

Steve Cope, a sophomore at Maryville College, has found his calling through an internship with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN). As a double major in Philosophy and Psychology, Cope is passionate about suicide prevention and has been actively involved in gathering demographic data, presenting to community groups, and providing guidelines for suicide prevention actions in schools. He credits Maryville College for providing a fertile ground for personal and professional development, and he plans to pursue a joint doctoral program at Yale University.

The Louisville Metro Housing Authority will have a new leader early next year.

Mayor Craig Greenberg announced Wednesday that Elizabeth (Wisman) Strojan will be the new Executive Director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority beginning in early 2024.

Strojan is a native of Louisville and graduate of Jefferson County Public Schools. She received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Government from Centre College (Danville, KY) where she was a Bonner Scholar. Strojan also served as the Bonner Scholar Program Coordinator at Centre.

Alicia Jiggetts, University of Richmond Bonner Alum ‘19, Spotlighted and Selected as the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government Graduation Speaker

Alicia Jiggetts (MPA ’23) credits the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation with helping her discover her civic identity. As a Bonner Scholar in college, she served as a local news correspondent and worked in restoration of rights and workforce development programs.

Approximately 100 Bonner Scholars and Leaders gathered in Black Mountain, North Carolina at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly from Oct 27-29 for an inspiring and engaging three days. The 2023 Bonner Congress theme was Making Mountains Move, a metaphorical concept that encapsulated the essence of overcoming challenges, the natural mountainous environment of the host site, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Just as moving a mountain is a seemingly impossible task, this theme encouraged participants to explore innovative strategies, determination, and collaboration to surmount obstacles, achieve ambitious goals, and effect positive change.

I am proud to share Tony Richardson’s eloquent and persuasive response to the Supreme Court's decision to end race-based Affirmative Action in college admissions. Tony is a 2005 Bonner Scholar alum from Oberlin College and a member of the Bonner Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He is also the President of the Gund Foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio.

As Tony says, “diversity is our superpower.” It is one of the Common Commitments of the Bonner Program for a reason. The Supreme Court’s decision challenges us all to re-double our efforts to live up to our motto “access to education, opportunity to serve.” This will take creativity, persistence, and collective action with new and old partners alike. And it will take leaders like Tony to help guide us on that journey to achieving the diversity and inclusion which are at the heart of the Bonner Program’s goals an experience.

More than 300 students, staff, and faculty members from 55 colleges and universities within the Bonner Network attended the 2023 Bonner Summer Leadership Institute hosted at Montclair State University from May 31 to June 3, 2023.

The theme for the conference was "Together Towards Tomorrow: Juntos Lo Logramos.” These words celebrate the abilities and strengths of the Bonner community in service, community engagement, and social justice. The theme highlights the idea that we have connection and community through a network of colleagues, alumni, and professionals. As the Bonner national network, we can work together to build a better and more equitable future for the hundreds of communities we serve. This theme also emphasizes the importance of interdependence and diversity.

The Bonner Foundation welcomes four exceptional 2023 Bonner summer interns who will work on Bonner curriculum development, resource development for strategic communications, and researching models for career pathways and connections. The interns will collaborate with Bonner Foundation staff members across different projects and support the 2023 Summer Leadership Institute. Their full bios can be found on the Bonner Foundation staff page.