Yayi Sonnabend, a 2023 Lindsey Wilson alumna, has been appointed director of the university’s Bonner Scholar Program and civic‑engagement initiatives. Under her leadership, the program—renowned for its extensive community‑service impact and partnership with the Bonner Foundation—aims to grow participation and deepen local collaborations.

Gabriela Tirado, a Rollins College Bonner alum, is leading a Peace Corps partnership project in The Gambia that installs a solar‑powered borehole and irrigation system for a women‑led community garden. The initiative advances Bonner’s focus on community engagement, sustainability, and women’s economic empowerment by improving food security, maternal health, and local livelihoods.

The University of Richmond’s Bonner Center for Civic Engagement recognized 17 Bonner Scholars for their four‑year commitment to community service, showcasing their projects through art and panel discussions. Students like Devin Morgan and Amber Castaneda collaborated with local nonprofits, gaining hands‑on experience that deepened their understanding of community challenges and solutions. The event emphasized the scholars’ dedication to building relationships, learning alongside partners, and fostering social change.

Kade Schooling ’26, a Bonner alum, earned a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to pursue graduate research in neuroscience and consciousness at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan. His interdisciplinary studies in Chinese and Behavioral Neuroscience, combined with the supportive Bonner network of mentors and faculty, positioned him to secure this competitive award and embark on cutting‑edge sleep neuroscience research abroad.

Rachel Carroll ’26, a senior health‑equity major and Bonner Scholar, chose to remain in Memphis to deepen her impact through community service and research. Through the Bonner program she has led initiatives with Bridges USA and the South Side Wildcats, while also serving as programming co‑chair of the Rhodes College Bonner Scholarship Leadership Council. Her work exemplifies the Bonner commitment to “walk loudly” and drive health and environmental justice in her hometown.

Bonner Scholars actively support Gregory Elementary School through their partnership with Mercer Street Friends, providing classroom assistance, after‑school programs, and community events. Their volunteers, such as Francisco Guerra, contribute hundreds of service hours, fostering a supportive, family‑like environment for students and teachers alike.

Bonner alumni gathered in Chicago for a hands‑on service day with Chicago Canine Rescue, where they walked shelter dogs Dusk, Okra, and Porcini and praised the organization’s well‑organized volunteer program. The event exemplifies Bonner’s commitment to civic leadership and community service, fostering alumni connections and encouraging future local gatherings.

Madilyn McGreevy’s college journey at Rider University is defined by her extensive service as a Bonner Community Leader, where she dedicated over 2,100 hours to supporting children and families in high‑need communities. Through Bonner, she led tutoring initiatives, mentored peers, and completed an Impact Internship, experiences that have prepared her to work as an educational specialist after graduation.

Erica Vu, a Bonner Scholar at Oberlin, credits the program with helping her build confidence and find community through various volunteer projects and leadership roles. Her experiences include working with the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra and serving as a camp counselor, all supported by Oberlin's Career Exploration and Development office, which helped her develop professionally while fostering her commitment to community engagement.

Nyrobi Whitfield ’26 has found purpose through hands-on learning beyond the classroom with Oberlin’s Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA). Through early research in aquatic science and later marine ecology work, Whitfield has turned coursework into tangible climate and environmental insights. Service as a lifeguard and swim instructor, along with sustainability leadership on campus, has deepened Whitfield’s commitment to community engagement. After graduation, Whitfield plans to pursue a PhD in marine ecology and continue building a career in climate change research.

Aina Tasso ’27, a Bonner Scholar at Oberlin, connects coursework with community engagement through tutoring, civic advocacy, and research. With support from CELA, she has pursued micro-internships in Congress and Colombia and a Mellon Mays fellowship focused on Afro-Peruvian education and awareness, shaping her path toward public service and academia.

Embry Burton, a Bonner Leader at Rollins College, has effectively integrated science, service, and leadership through the Bonner Program, which emphasizes community engagement and social justice. As they pursue a Master of Public Health at Emory University, Embry exemplifies how Bonner's structured approach has shaped their academic and career aspirations in public health and global health.

Wofford College Bonner, Chrisler White, has been selected as one of fourteen American college students for the prestigious Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship program in Dublin, Ireland. This program, co-sponsored by CIEE and various organizations, aims to equip young professionals with practical work experience while honoring the legacies of Douglass and O’Connell in the pursuit of social justice and equality.

Rutgers University, Bonner alum Tyler Seville advanced his health policy career through the Executive Master of Public Administration program at the Fels Institute of Government, where he leveraged his background in community service to establish a partnership that supports future leaders in public service. His journey demonstrates the value of flexible graduate education for working professionals and the impact of mentorship in fostering civic engagement.

Bonner Scholar, Jay'Shun Mathews '28, a sophomore at Morehouse College is making a national impact as Founder and Executive Director of the Black Youth Empowerment Network (BYEN), a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to empowering Black youth through leadership and community engagement. Since its founding in 2024, BYEN has grown into a movement of over 500 members across 25 states, earning Mathews recognition on the HBCUniverse 30 Under 30 list and two Rice Awards nominations. His work exemplifies Morehouse's values of service, innovation, and impact, proving that the next generation of leaders is already making a difference.

Berry College, Bonner Alum, Dr. Emily Melchior (16C), has established herself as a prominent figure in animal health research, serving as the Manager of Global Outcomes Research at Zoetis Animal Health. She is recognized for her contributions to ruminant microbiology and nutrition, and she actively supports young professionals through mentorship and her involvement in various organizations.

Rutgers University Bonner, Prachi Shashidhar, founded Cooking for Camden, a student-led nonprofit organization that works with members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Market Street, where meals are provided to guests who visit the church. She developed the project while taking a “First-Year Forum” course taught by Lee Ann Westman, director of the Honors College at Rutgers-Camden and later transferred to Rutgers New Brunswick .

Davidson College, Bonner Scholar, Hannah Lieberman ’18 wrote, directed and performed Hysterical, a one-woman comedy musical exploring topics of relationships, identity and her family’s history of inherited ovarian cancer. Her hustling brought her to QED, a small arts venue in Astoria, Queens, New York, and, for at least the last decade, the only woman-owned and operated venue in the area.

Centre College Bonner, Cate Boyette, class of 2028, faced an epilepsy diagnosis that challenged her educational path. Seizures, chronic migraines and long stretches spent homebound made school nearly impossible — even requiring her to repeat her junior year. These experiences ultimately deepened her appreciation for education, classmates and teachers. 

Five Bonner students have been nominated for the prestigious Campus Compact 2025–2026 Newman Civic Fellowship, recognizing their exceptional commitment to civic leadership and community engagement. The fellows represent diverse institutions and focus areas including housing insecurity, environmental justice, reproductive rights, and youth political engagement. Their work exemplifies the power of student-led change in addressing critical social issues and building a more equitable society.

Alaynna Kriz, a nursing major and Bonner Leader at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, is dedicating her summer to establishing a free health clinic in St. Cloud, which is set to open in August. She is researching community health needs and preparing undergraduate nursing students for their roles at the clinic, aiming to create a beneficial environment for both the clinic and the students involved.

Olivia Upton '25, a Bonner Leader at the University of Lynchburg, has developed an environmental education curriculum for Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center. As part of her Bonner legacy project and Westover Honors thesis, Upton combines hands-on curriculum development with scholarly research in environmental education. Her work at the nonprofit day camp includes creating educational activities for school field trips and coordinating volunteer experiences. Upton's project not only serves immediate educational needs but also builds capacity for future program expansion at the camp.

At Washington and Lee University, three Bonner students made a significant impact on global healthcare accessibility through an innovative digital mapping project. Working with the Street Medicine Institute (SMI), they developed the first comprehensive international database of street medicine providers. This groundbreaking tool, created under the mentorship of Bonner Program Director Marisa Charley, now helps healthcare professionals worldwide better coordinate care for unsheltered populations. The project exemplifies how student-led initiatives can create meaningful change while inspiring future careers in accessible healthcare.

Meet our 2025 National Bonner Summer Interns! Michael Deem Jr. from Rider University brings his expertise in film and storytelling, while Spelman College's Olivia Gray focuses on advancing educational equity. Oberlin's Joseph (JP) Liddy contributes his experience in event coordination and community building, and Centre College's Kayla Rogers brings her passion for policy advocacy and civic engagement. Together, these talented student leaders will support the Bonner Foundation's mission while gaining valuable professional experience in the nonprofit sector.

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.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. Fellows are nominated by Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors, who are invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year. As we settle in to 2025 and prepare for the remainder of the academic year, we at Campus Compact wanted to share some voices we know will bring you hope and joy.

As the Bonner Foundation moves toward the 35th Anniversary of the Bonner Program, marked in 2025 at the Summer Leadership Institute at the University of Richmond in June, the Bonner Foundation team is updating communications, including new videos that showcase the impact of the Bonner Program on students, institutions, and communities.

The Congressional Hunger Center recently announced that they welcomed new members to their Alumni Council, one of them being an Allegheny Bonner Alum, London Dejarnette. London Dejarnette is a recent graduate from Allegheny College where they studied Environmental Science and Sustainability & Community and Justice Studies. London served in the Hunger Center's 5th class of Zero Hunger Interns in 2022 and considers their career path to be a direct result of their experience in the program.

While the executive director role may be a new one for him at the Madison County Arts Council, Brandon Johnson is certainly not a "new face in a new place at the nonprofit organization." He moved to the area in 2006 when he went to Mars Hill University as a Bonner Scholar, a program in which students participate in service, leadership development and meetings/trainings for approximately 10 hours a week. Johnson's community service in the Bonners Scholar program led him to the Bluff Mountain Festival, where he started as an intern in 2007, and in later years emceed the event and also performed.