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 Recognition

Brown University Bonner, Jay Philbrick '24.5, Awarded Truman Scholarship

Brown University Bonner, Jay Philbrick '24.5, Awarded Truman Scholarship

Bonner from the Swearer Center at Brown University was awarded the Truman Scholarship, a prestigious graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the U.S. One of the recipients, Jay Philbrick, a Bonner Fellow, Laidlaw Scholar, and member of the Student Advisory Committee, aims to use economic research and software development for social change. He hopes to use evidence-based economic policy to improve people's living standards, especially in retirement support and worker benefits. The scholarship will contribute significantly to the joint JD/PhD programs he plans to pursue after Brown.

Guilford College Bonner, Jahmarley Vivens ’26 honored at MLK Celebration

Guilford College Bonner, Jahmarley Vivens ’26 honored at MLK Celebration

Jahmarley Vivens ’26 and Sonalini Sapra were recognized for their work in strengthening Guilford's community in the classroom and beyond. Jahmarley, a business major from Miami, was commended for his leadership and efforts to bring students together. Sonalini, the Associate Director for Guilford’s Center for Principled Problem Solving and Excellence in Teaching, was acknowledged for her student-focused lessons and commitment to inclusivity. Both individuals were honored at the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, highlighting their significant contributions to Guilford College's community.

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Cyntia Roig, Brown University Bonner Fellow, Selected as Campus Compact Student Design Fellow

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Cyntia Roig, Brown University Bonner Fellow, Selected as Campus Compact Student Design Fellow

Cyntia Roig, a Bonner Fellow at Brown University’s Swearer Center, selected as one of seven students to be part of the inaugural group of Campus Compact Student Design Fellows.

The Student Design Fellow program is a commitment to a two-year, student-led design process. Student Design Fellows will collaborate closely with Campus Compact staff, member campuses, and national partners to shape student civic leadership development. Through extensive research, the review of existing best practices, and interviews with students and experts nationwide, fellows will actively contribute to the design and facilitation of inquiry workshops. This approach aims to foster innovative thinking and produce a strategic plan for Campus Compact's student-facing initiatives.

From Miami, Cyntia Roig, a first year at Brown University, names her participation in the Swearer Center’s Bonner Fellows as her favorite civic engagement activity and hopes to utilize her Bonner experience and community to shape her involvement in the Student Design Fellowship.

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Bonner Scholar John Hoang Joins 30th Class of Emerson Hunger Fellows

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Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, John continues to cultivate what he has learned from the legacies and infrastructures left by justice and equity pioneers of the past and present into accessible, approachable, and active actions for positive and transformative restitution as change.

As a Bonner and McNair Scholar, John has worked within his community and the broader communities he serves by expanding community capacity concerning political action and civic engagement while focusing on identity, place, and policy.

Amir Staten's Morehouse Bonner Scholarship Acceptance Goes Viral

Amir Staten's Morehouse Bonner Scholarship Acceptance Goes Viral

Amir Staten, 17, of Philadelphia gained national attention in February when he sprinted down a street, crying and yelling in joy after learning he was accepted into Morehouse College, an all-male historically black university in Atlanta.

A few months later, the soon-to-be high school graduate learned that he had also earned a four-year, full-ride Bonner Scholarship to Morehouse.

Stephen Omukoko Okoth, Oberlin '25, Selected as Earth Prize Mentor of the Year.

Stephen Omukoko Okoth, Oberlin '25, Selected as Earth Prize Mentor of the Year.

Stephen Omukoko Okoth, Oberlin Bonner Scholar Class of 2025, was selected as one of three Earth Prize Mentors of the Year. The Earth Prize recognizes the students and schools with the best solutions to accelerate positive change towards environmental sustainability, as judged by The Earth Prize Adjudicating Panel. The Earth Prize 2023 will now recognize three Mentors with The Earth Prize Mentor of the Year award, as voted by the competition’s Participants.

14 Bonners Selected for the 2023-24 Newman Civic Fellowship

14 Bonners Selected for the 2023-24 Newman Civic Fellowship

The Newman Civic Fellowship supports college students who are committed to their communities and creating social change. Nominated by their president or chancellor, fellows receive training and resources through the yearlong program. This includes virtual learning opportunities, networking, and an optional in-person convening. The fellowship is named after Campus Compact founder Frank Newman and is a key part of their mission to build a national network of engaged student leaders who can create partnerships between campuses and communities. The 2023-2024 Nominated Newman Civic Fellows are: Aaliyah Moore ‘24, Angel Young ‘24, Aylon Gipson ‘23, Halle Gensler ‘25, Lauren Funke ‘24, and Paul Nguyen ‘25.

Earlham Bonner Scholar Marisol Cora Cruz Awarded Watson Fellowship

Earlham Bonner Scholar Marisol Cora Cruz Awarded Watson Fellowship

Bonner Scholar, Marisol Cora-Cruz, 2023 Neuroscience major at Earlham College, has been awarded the prestigious Watson Fellowship for the 2023-24 academic year. Her project, "Understanding Maternal Healthcare Around the World," will take her to Bolivia, England, and Germany to explore access to and quality of maternal healthcare in countries with different healthcare models. This is Cora-Cruz's second major award in the last year, having previously earned the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.

Lotus Lloyd, Oberlin ‘26, Named a GLAAD’s “20 Under 20” Changemaker

Lotus Lloyd, Oberlin ‘26, Named a GLAAD’s “20 Under 20” Changemaker

Lloyd was recently named to GLAAD’s prestigious “20 Under 20” list of changemakers: a group of outstanding young people who are accelerating acceptance through their work in entertainment and media.

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Two Bonners Receive Community Impact Student Awards at 2022 “Engagement Matters” NCCE Ceremony

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Two Bonners Receive Community Impact Student Awards at 2022 “Engagement Matters” NCCE Ceremony

On November 18 North Carolina Campus Engagement hosted the 2022 “Engagement Matters” Student Awards Ceremony. Nineteen outstanding students, from within the NCCE member network of colleges and universities, were recognized for their civic and community engagement leadership. The award recipients shared powerful insights about what they have gained or learned by being civically engaged. Friends, loved ones, and campus constituents participated in the Ceremony from throughout the country to celebrate these inspiring students.

Since 2006, the Community Impact Student Awards recognize an outstanding, full-time undergraduate or graduate student service leader from each member campus.

All award winners should clearly demonstrate:

  • Deep commitment to partnering with others to address community issues

  • Outstanding ability to lead and inspire fellow students to engage

  • Evidence of sustainable impact of their work

Two Bonner students were selected by their institution to receive at 2022 Community Impact Student Award (CISA).

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Centre College Bonner, Gloria Lwin ’24, named to inaugural group of Obama-Chesky Scholars

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Centre College Bonner, Gloria Lwin ’24, named to inaugural group of Obama-Chesky Scholars

Gloria Lwin ’24 has been named to the inaugural cohort of Voyager Scholarship recipients, a prestigious class of 100 college juniors nationwide who plan to pursue a career in public service.

The Voyager Scholarship is funded by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama through the Obama Foundation and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. The scholarship aims to provide college students with financial support for college costs and exposure to new places and experiences, along with a network of mentors and leaders to support them.

Lwin, a Centre College Bonner Leader and native of Owensboro, Kentucky, said her experience with the Bonner Program aided her greatly in the application process.

“The Bonner Program played a huge role in my interest in social justice issues and community service, and because of that experience, I have become more passionate about healthcare disparities,” she said. “My classes at Centre have pushed me, and I’ll be able to use the skills I’ve learned here in this opportunity.”

Rider University Bonner, Love Oluwadare ‘22 recognized by Center for the Development of Leadership Skills

Love Oluwadare ‘22 and Marc Suntup ‘74 are Rider's 2022 Leadership Legacy Award recipients.

Rider’s Center for the Development of Leadership Skills (CDLS) has named Love Oluwadare '22 and Marc Suntup '74 its 2022 Leadership Legacy Award recipients.

The award is bestowed upon one graduating senior and one alumnus or alumna each year who have demonstrated excellence in leadership through service to others. 

"Both Marc and Love embody the spirit of the Leadership Legacy Award in that their leadership was focused on assuring they included and empowered those around them as they developed initiatives for their communities that would create a lasting impact,” says Laura Seplaki, associate director of CDLS. 

A biology and health sciences double major, Oluwadare served in numerous leadership roles for organizations during her time at Rider. She was an orientation leader, a mentor in Rider's General Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies program for undeclared majors, the chairperson for the Student Entertainment Council, a community assistant and a tour guide.

Oluwadare also held various service roles within the Bonner Community Scholar Program. The scholarship program selects a small number of students per year to complete 300 hours of community service. She was selected to serve as a senior Bonner intern, a role reserved for one student at each Bonner campus who demonstrates a deep commitment to the program. As an intern, she played a key role in daily operations, creating student development opportunities, supporting fellow Bonner Scholars, especially first-year students, and served as a liaison to other organizations on campus and in the community. Oluwadare was also a Meals on Wheels intern and manager of Rider's on-campus student pantry. She mentored many younger members within the organization and even created a mentorship program for the Bonner Scholars.

Suntup has supported his community through work as a top-level leader and mentor with nonprofit organizations including the American Heart Association, the Gurwin Jewish Healthcare Foundation and Island Harvest Food Bank. Suntup and his teams raised more than $250 million dollars for the nonprofit organizations under his watch.

During his time at Rider as a political science major, Suntup was vice president of his freshman and sophomore classes, chairman of the Student Affairs Council, a resident assistant and a resident supervisor. 

Launched in 2004, the Center for the Development of Leadership Skills provides effective leadership training and quality programming to develop the leadership capacities of the Rider community. The Center complements and expands upon Rider’s tradition of producing tomorrow’s innovative leaders and confident professionals.

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College of St. Benedict Bonner Leader Sydney Walker chosen as a Truman Scholar

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College of St. Benedict Bonner Leader Sydney Walker chosen as a Truman Scholar

Growing up in Watertown, South Dakota, Sydney Walker always had a keen interest in education – largely because her parents are both teachers. She came to the College of Saint Benedict, where her mom, Tricia (Koob) Walker, was a 1993 graduate, and started out on the same career path. But going to CSB and Saint John’s University quickly broadened Sydney’s worldview.

“I’ve always had a passion for learning – I think my parents have instilled that in me since I was little,” said Walker, who is finishing her junior year as a political science major. “I knew I could create an inclusive classroom myself, but it is hard for a single-classroom teacher to have a broader impact on the education system. Over time, I realized my influence could be broader from a public policy level.”

Very soon she will have opportunity to develop that influence as the latest on a short list of Saint Ben’s Truman Scholars, and having accepted a summer internship with the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Three Bonner Students at Averett University Recognized for Academic Honors

Three Bonner Students at Averett University Recognized for Academic Honors


Almost 25 Averett University students including three Bonners were recently honored for their academic achievement during the 2021-2022 academic year. The University’s annual Honors Recognition Program was held Tuesday, April 12, in Pritchett Auditorium in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center.

Bonner Community-Engaged Learning Grant Supports ‘Books with College Buddies’ at St. Cloud COP House

Bonner Community-Engaged Learning Grant Supports ‘Books with College Buddies’ at St. Cloud COP House

Anna Watt, Reagan Bos and Maria Hall all will be teachers in the not-too-distant future, and part of their training other than education coursework at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB/SJU) includes real-world exposure to potential students.

This can mean shadowing teachers in the classroom and, eventually, student teaching. These three CSB undergrads, however, are going above and beyond what is required to engage with diverse children in St. Cloud as part of a grant-sponsored “Books with College Buddies” program.

Terri Rodriguez, in her ninth year as an education professor at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s, started the program in the spring of 2021 with $3,000 in support via funding from the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation and the Optimist Club of St. Cloud.

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9 Bonners Selected for 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellowship

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9 Bonners Selected for 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellowship

The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions. Fellows are nominated by their president or chancellor on the basis of their potential for public leadership.

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides students with training and resources that nurture their assets and passions and help them develop strategies for social change. The yearlong program, named for Campus Compact founder Frank Newman, includes virtual learning opportunities and networking as part of a national network of engaged student leaders and an optional in-person convening.

Campus Compact views the Newman Civic Fellowship as a core component of our strategy to build a national network of engaged student leaders who can support one another in building transformational partnerships between campuses and communities.

Below we have included the personal statement from each of the nine Bonners who are part of the 2022-23 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.

University of Richmond Bonner Scholar Receives Grant Support For Environmental Justice Project

University of Richmond Bonner Scholar Receives Grant Support For Environmental Justice Project

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — University of Richmond students McKenna Dunbar, a junior from Washington, D.C., and Indya Woodfolk, a senior Bonner Scholar from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, received a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant to support a project empowering minoritized peoples related to environmental justice.

Projects for Peace is an initiative supporting college students on grassroots projects that are designed to build peace.