The 2016 election cycle left an indelible impression on a young Matthew Brodsky. “I knew I really wanted to get involved in politics and policy and create change,” Brodsky recalled. “It just happened. I mean, I went through a bunch of other phases growing up—dinosaurs. Baseball is something I still love. But politics has always just stuck. And I knew that's where I was meant to be.”

Brodsky, now a senior political science major at Rutgers University in Camden, has never wavered from that political pursuit. With a congressional internship on his résumé and future plans that include public office, Brodsky serves as Student Governing Association (SGA) president, advocating for student organizations and civic engagement, particularly around voter registration. 

A College of Arts and Sciences student, Brodsky is the student lead of the RUC Votes, a nonpartisan group whose goal is to increase campus voter engagement and education. Last year, the coalition helped Rutgers–Camden win the state’s Ballot Bowl, a competition among New Jersey colleges and universities to register the most voters and secure the most pledges to vote. 

The RUC Votes Coalition project stemmed from Brodsky’s work as a Bonner Civic Scholar, which prepares students for public service leadership through community-based partnerships. The program, which includes 300 hours of service per year, is “just a really rewarding opportunity,” said Brodsky; he credits that work with preparing him for acceptance into the Rutgers-Eagleton Washington Internship Award Program. 

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.