Student Profile
Robert Hackett
Five Bonners Selected as 2025 National Bonner ...

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.

Five Bonners Selected as 2025 National Bonner Foundation Summer Interns
Alumni Profile
Robert Hackett
Spelman College Bonner Alum, Dr. Maranda C. ...

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.

Spelman College Bonner Alum, Dr. Maranda C. Ward, Awarded The Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement
Campus Profile
Robert Hackett
A Banner Year for Bonners: TCNJ Bonner Program ...

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.

A Banner Year for Bonners: TCNJ Bonner Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary
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

New Graduate School Partnership with The McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University

New Graduate School Partnership with The McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University

The McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University is a top-ranked public policy school located in the center of the policy world in Washington, D.C.

Their mission is to teach students to help design, analyze, and implement smart policies and put them into practice in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, in the U.S. and around the world. The McCourt School flagship degree is the Master in Public Policy. McCourt also offers a Master in International Development Policy, a Master of Science in Data Science for Public Policy, a Master in Policy Management, an Executive Master in Policy Leadership, as well as other dual degree and executive programs.

The McCourt School will waive the application fee for all Bonner Scholar and Leader applicants as well as provide up to two admitted Bonner Scholars or Leaders a $25,000 minimum scholarship award.

For more information about the McCourt School/Bonner Scholarship, please visit here.

New Graduate School Partnership with Crummer School of Business at Rollins College

New Graduate School Partnership with Crummer School of Business at Rollins College

The Crummer Graduate School of Business is looking to recruit exceptional Bonner Program graduates with service-learning and leadership experience to pursue an MBA and who can positively impact organizations and understand philanthropy from all perspectives.

Bonner Program participants and alumni who have successfully met the requirements of their scholarship/service who apply to the Early Advantage MBA program at The Crummer Graduate School of Business receive the following partnership benefits:

  • Guaranteed $10,000 scholarship for admitted Bonner Graduates

  • Application fee waiver

  • Bonner Scholars and Bonner Leaders may also be eligible for additional admissions and
    leadership-based scholarships from the Crummer Graduate School of Business

New Graduate School Partnership with AU's School of International Service

New Graduate School Partnership with AU's School of International Service

The School of International Service (SIS) is a top ten school of international affairs, founded with a mission of waging peace and improving the human condition over 60 years ago. Current students report that the number one reason they chose SIS for their graduate study is our ethos of service.  Students come to SIS to prepare themselves for careers that matter—whether by influencing environmental policy; developing creative approaches to alleviate poverty; analyzing foreign policy; interrupting cycles of conflict; or advocating for human rights protections, among other ways of making a positive impact on today’s pressing global issues. Students from the Bonner Program will find a strong community of colleagues who share their service mindset at SIS.

SIS is committed to leveraging its position as one of the largest schools of international affairs in the country to ensure that all voices are at the table when it comes to preparing a next generation of leaders in the field of international affairs that better represents the diversity of our country. SIS welcomes students from all backgrounds and with a variety of experiences because we know that a diverse school and a diverse professional field will be better able to identify creative solutions to the most challenging issues of our time.

The Bonner/SIS Partnership encourages current or former Bonner Scholars and Bonner Leaders interested in pursuing graduate education in international affairs to apply to any one of our 15 Master’s Degree programs. SIS offers an application fee waiver for all Bonner Program students. SIS will also award a $10,000 scholarship to up to five Bonner Scholars/Bonner Leaders who are accepted into eligible SIS residential Master’s programs.

Learn more about SIS here. Questions about the Bonner/SIS partnership can be directed to liz@bonner.org.

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Summer Freedom Holds Different Meaning for Davidson Students

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Summer Freedom Holds Different Meaning for Davidson Students

Three Bonner Scholars from Davidson engaged with the Freedom School this summer, as profiled in this Davidson.edu article.

TJ Elliott, linebacker and sociology major, has developed a new appreciation for teachers.

He’d worked with kids as a summer camp counselor, a tutor, and football coach for his little brother’s Pop Warner team. Teaching as a Freedom Schools servant leader intern this summer opened a new view.

Leading a classroom of energetic six to eight-year-olds every day – with a mission to improve their literacy skills – kept the Davidson College class of ’21 football player and Bonner Scholar from Charlotte playing a nimble mix of defense and offense.

President Carol Quillen participates in Freedom Schools' Harambee.

“I always thought it was about managing the class and helping kids redirect their behavior when they need that,” said Elliott, of Charlotte. “I wasn’t thinking about making lesson plans and all the preparation involved. It made me realize that we don’t pay teachers nearly enough.”

Bonner Broadcast Launched

Bonner Broadcast Launched

We are extremely pleased to release a series of professional development resources, titled the “Bonner Broadcast.” The Bonner Broadcast is a webinar and podcast series to provide training and support for individuals (students and staff) in the civic engagement higher education field.

These resources were developed as part of the Bonner Pipeline Project strategic initiative by three of the Bonner Foundation National Summer Interns: Clare Blim, Centre College ’20, Maria Guevara Carpio, Rutgers New Brunswick ’21, and Sara Byler, Waynesburg University ’20, under the supervision and guidance of Bonner Foundation staff and the Bonner Pipeline Project Committee.

New Graduate School Partnership with the Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development

New Graduate School Partnership with the Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development

The Bonner Foundation is pleased to announce a new graduate school partnership with the Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development.


Vanderbilt Peabody College seeks to enhance the human condition, with a particular focus on children’s learning and development. They accomplish this mission, through the preparation of teachers and leaders; through cycles of research, implementation, and refinement; through service to families, schools, and communities; and through external engagement with professionals, leaders, and policy-makers. Peabody’s focus on learning differences has helped to define the college, as has a reputation for empirical rigor in educational neuroscience; child, family, and community development; special education; the learning sciences; and educational leadership and policy. Peabody is devoted to creating opportunity in an increasingly diverse society and to solving large societal problems.

Morehouse Wins 2019 Citizenship Award from Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Morehouse Wins 2019 Citizenship Award from Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

ATLANTA, Ga. - Morehouse College claimed the 2019 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Citizenship Award. The award was presented to Director of Athletics, Andre Pattillo, at the 2019 Athletic Director's Meeting for their community outreach efforts.

The SIAC, whose goal is to empower surrounding communities, launched the SIAC Citizenship Award to annually recognize athletic departments that best exemplify the spirit of community and demonstrates values of volunteer community service and engagement.

The Morehouse Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) partnered with the Bonner Office of Community Service to earn this year's SIAC Citizenship Award.

Montavius Coleman (Adams Scholar and track & field champion), Michael Sims (all-conference quarterback and Bonner Scholar) and Eric Daily (Bonner Scholar) served as project managers, meeting with Kevin D. Chapman, Jr., SAAC co-advisor/assistant director of the Bonner Office of Community Service, on weekly basis, each facilitating meetings where they discussed strategy regarding student initiatives, community service, community engagement and fundraising events. Each week the men of Morehouse identified community partners, planned, marketed and implemented events and audited conference reports of their service efforts.

The Human Side of Immigration

The Human Side of Immigration

It’s 8 a.m. in Nogales, Arizona, as 19-year-old Maryvillian Kirksey Dalen Croft [Bonner Scholar from Maryville College] loads the back of a vehicle with supplies for an all-day mission.

She and some others head out for the scorching desert to make water drops for migrants who might be trying to make their way from Mexico and into the United States. On some nights, they camp in the desert. She doesn’t meet any travelers on this trek, but evidence of their presence is starkly evident. As they walk along one of the trails used by the migrants, crosses and memorials come into plain view.

“We’re walking in the middle of nowhere in the desert and all of a sudden, there are six crosses right there,” she said by phone Thursday. “Seeing them became normal even though this is so not normal.”

Read full story here in the Blount County newspaper The Daily Times, by Melanie Tucker Jul 11, 2019

Wofford Bonner Class of 2019 Celebrates Four Years of Engagement

Wofford College’s Class of 2019 celebrated their four years of community engagement and thanked those who encouraged, empowered, and inspired them along the way. This 3-minute video recap of the Senior Presentations of Service and Learning was created by Gateway and Bonner Scholar, Wilson Oswald.

You can read more about Wofford’s 2019 graduating Bonner Schlars in this program for the year end Presentations of Service and Learning.

Bonner Summer Service in France Launched Teaching Career

Bonner Summer Service in France Launched Teaching Career

This 2009 graduate is grateful to the Bonner Scholars program for the chance to first study abroad.

Lindsay Pulfer Langett teaches French at Jefferson-Forest High School in Bedford County, teaching French II, III, IV and AP classes “while advocating for the cultural importance of language study in a secondary language.” 

“My experience at Emory & Henry, especially as a Bonner scholar, prepared me for my future career and adult life. Volunteering taught me the importance of interacting with the community.  With the assistance of Bonner, I was able to go to France for the first time the summer after my Freshman year to do volunteer work. This opened my eyes to international travel and led me toward study abroad. When I was ready to take on that adventure, administration permitted me to personalize my own experience by allowing me to choose my own study abroad program and provided me with the accommodations that I needed. Upon returning to campus, my education classes and student teaching experience were instrumental in preparing me for my career. I am forever grateful for Emory & Henry!”

Peace Corps Next Adventure for Two Lynchburg Bonners

Peace Corps Next Adventure for Two Lynchburg Bonners

Each year, the Peace Corps receives 18,000 applications and accepts only 4,000 people for service positions abroad. This year, three of the 4,000 volunteers fulfilling their passions for humanitarian work are soon-to-be University of Lynchburg alumni.

Two of the Lynchburg alumni are Bonner Leaders. International relations and Spanish major Hannah Wolf ’19 will join the Peace Corps’ education program and Biomedical science major Dakota Shepherd ’19 will join the health program as a community health promoter in Sierra Leone. A third Lynchburg alum, French major Caitlin Tolley ’19 . Woll, will be stationed in Rwanda with an education program.

Richmond Bonner Explores Mentoring in Art Exhibition

Richmond Bonner Explores Mentoring in Art Exhibition

A new art exhibition, envisioned by University of Richmond senior Nicole Benites, will open at UR Downtown this Friday, April 5.

The Faces of Mentoring explores the meaningful relationships formed between mentors and mentees. Curated by Benites, a Bonner Scholar who has interned with Virginia Mentoring Partnership since her first year at the University, the exhibition is an open invitation to the community to learn more about mentoring programs in Richmond.

“I have mentored and been mentored throughout my college career, and I truly believe it can change someone’s life,” said Benites. “I wanted to combine my passion for art and civic engagement in a way that would connect our community in a unique way, while providing a platform that would inspire others to become engaged as well.”

Sewanee Bonner Making Haste with Waste

Sewanee Bonner Making Haste with Waste

While you might get squeamish at the thought of maggots working their way through a mountain of discarded food waste, Chris Hornsby, C’19, has spent four years studying the process, and he’s here to tell you that it’s more appealing than abhorrent, more captivating than creepy, more engrossing than gross.

With a background in engineering and environmental studies, Hornsby has been working with the University Farm to develop an innovative composting prototype that has the potential to change the landscape of waste-management systems far beyond the Mountain. And he hopes to make the work of his maggots—specifically black soldier fly larvae—as approachable and actionable as recycling currently is.

“I know I have a bias because of my work, but I think they’re one of the cutest bugs I’ve ever come across,” Hornsby says. “They’re really intriguing creatures.”

Black soldier fly larvae have been at the forefront of Hornsby’s work since he arrived on campus. As a freshman, he applied to the Bonner Leader program, a four-year leadership and community service internship program. In addition to taking a series of skill-building workshops, “Bonners,” as the student program participants are known on campus, are partnered with community service organizations to increase the organizations’ capacity to do their work. Having recently developed an interest in agriculture, Hornsby chose to work with the University Farm, part of the Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability.

Davidson Bonner Serves in Dominican Republic

Davidson Bonner Serves in Dominican Republic

The Princeton in Latin American Fellowship connects recent college graduates with one-year, service-oriented positions at nonprofit and community-based service organizations in Latin America. The fellowship is designed to promote education, leadership, and engagement within communities all throughout Latin America. Elizabeth Prosser, a current Princeton in Latin America Fellow based in the Dominican Republic, shared her experience in the program and gives some application tips.

Elizabeth Prosser recently graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in Hispanic Studies with a minor in Francophone Studies.  Over the course of her college career, she held multiple internships and service positions aligning with her passions for education reform, nonprofit work, Spanish, and international relations. She now explores her love for these subjects through a Princeton in Latin America Fellowship, working as the Operations and Development Fellow at Yspaniola, an education-based nonprofit in the Dominican Republic. Afterwards, she will pursue a Master’s in Latin American Studies at Stanford University in order to gain a more holistic understanding of Latin America and its history, culture, and challenges.

Read full story here.

Morehouse Bonner Scholar River Lewis benefited from ‘mentors who looked like me’

Morehouse Bonner Scholar River Lewis benefited from ‘mentors who looked like me’

Excerpt from Salisbury Post, January 20, 2010

By Maggie Blackwell

“Morehouse gave me what I’d subconsciously craved from childhood: positive relationships with mentors who looked like me,” says River Lewis, a 22-year old recent graduate of the Atlanta college.

River is tall and lanky, and moves with ease and grace. Although he’s inclined to hug someone he meets, his handshake is strong and he has a direct gaze. His braided hair is carefully coifed atop his head like a crown.

He’s working now to provide the same mentorship he received to young men who also look like him. Through his non-profit he is matching minority business leaders with at-risk boys from Salisbury and Atlanta.

Twelve Bonners Named 2019-20 Newman Civic Fellows

Twelve Bonners Named 2019-20 Newman Civic Fellows

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.

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Macalester Bonner Alum Presents Findings on Capitol Hill

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Macalester Bonner Alum Presents Findings on Capitol Hill

The 25th Class of Emerson National Hunger Fellows gathered at Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, February 28, to present their findings from their six months spent working to end hunger with local organizations in communities across the U.S.

Chesterfield Polkey, a 2018 Bonner alum from Macalester College, is a member of this year’s Emerson National Hunger Fellows. He served the first half of his fellowship at Just Harvest, a local community organization in Pittsburgh, PA.

Spelman Bonner Scholar Among Inaugural Minority Entrepreneur Fellows from HBCUs

Spelman Bonner Scholar Among Inaugural Minority Entrepreneur Fellows from HBCUs

ATLANTA (February 18, 2019) – A Spelman College student is part of an inaugural cohort of fellows in a program that aims to increase minority entrepreneurs from historically Black colleges and universities.

Destinee Filmore, C’2021, is among the 25-member cohort of the Mary Ellen Pleasant Entrepreneur Fellowship program. The MEPE Fellowship, an outgrowth of a partnership between The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions and minority-owned recruiting marketing platform, The Whether, is part of a $775,000 Innovations in Career Advising grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“These types of learning opportunities contribute to the transformational experiences that shape the lives of Spelman students,” said Darryl Holloman, Ph.D., vice president for student affairs.  “Destinee’s selection aligns with Spelman’s efforts to train innovative change agents who, in turn, have a positive impact on the world. We are proud of Destinee for this accomplishment.”

TCNJ Bonners' "The Streetlight" Wins NJ Journalism Prize

TCNJ Bonners' "The Streetlight" Wins NJ Journalism Prize

The Streetlight, published by TCNJ students with and for people experiencing homelessness in and around Trenton, won first place in the 2019 NJ News Commons Excellence in Local News competition.

“Community engagement was at the core of Streetlight reporting in 2018, from profiles about local soup kitchens and community organizations to interviews with residents who have experienced homelessness to an investigation into severe weather closings at the Trenton Free Public Library,” according to the Center for Cooperative Media announcement.

“They also held editorial review board meetings, where representatives from local organizations such as the Trenton area soup kitchen and the mercer alliance to end homelessness reviewed our articles and collaborated with their newsroom to suggest future story ideas. One such story focused on a father and son who reunited at the rescue mission of Trenton after 24 years, a story that came from discussions with community partners and local residents.”

Tusculum Recognized for 2018 Voter Registration

Tusculum Recognized for 2018 Voter Registration

Facing a lecture hall full of Tusculum University students, Tre Hargett, Tennessee’s secretary of state, told them that someday one of them might be governor, a U.S. senator or the nation’s president.

If that is going to happen, he said, it is important they prepare themselves for this opportunity and participate in the electoral process. He encouraged students to not only register to vote but then to go to the polls and cast votes that reflect their views.

“Don’t vote my values and don’t vote the way you believe that I think you should vote,” Hargett said. “Vote the way that you believe you should vote based on your values and your principles. And don’t just accept what you see in 280 characters on Twitter or what’s a liked post on Instagram. Do your own research and vote the way you believe you should.”

Hargett was at Tusculum’s Meen Center Thursday, Jan. 24, to recognize the university as one of three winners in the 2018 Tennessee College Voter Registration Competition. He presented an award to Hanna Johnson and (Bonner Leader) Carmyn Tassone, two sophomores who led a voter registration drive in the fall. Joining them for the presentation were state Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, and state Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, who represent Tusculum in the state Legislature.