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.
TCNJ’s Bonner Community Scholars Program launched 20 years ago, it started with just 12 Bonner Scholars — students who commit to 300 hours of community service annually in exchange for needs-based scholarships. Now, with close to 100 participants each year, the TCNJ program is one of the largest and most successful in a nationwide network of Bonner college programs.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nine Bonners have been awarded the 2024-2025 Newman Fellowship. The 2024-2025 Newman Civic Fellows comprise of student civic leaders from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico. This fellowship, supported by The Allstate Foundation, 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.
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.
