Advancing AI Accessibility and Policy</h1> <article> <h1>Advancing AI Accessibility and Policy</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:36:24 +0000</p> <span>Advancing AI Accessibility and Policy</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-23T13:36:24-04:00" title="Monday, March 23, 2026 - 13:36">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:36</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA) has given Tanisha Shende ’26 the tools to grow not only as a computer science researcher but also as a caring and civic-minded researcher.</p><p>Shende entered 91ֱ�� as a <a href="/undergraduate-research/programs/strong">STRONG Scholar</a>. Run by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), the STRONG Scholars Program provides first-year students with specialized mentoring and resources to help them adapt to and thrive in their STEM journey. As her first research endeavor, Shende spent her first-year winter term in a computational astrophysics lab with Professor Jillian Scudder.</p><p>Soon after, Shende earned a research role with XR Access, a Cornell Tech initiative that aims to make virtual reality programs more accessible for people with disabilities. There, she found a deeper sense of purpose in the human impact of her work.</p><p>Shende continued her journey as a computer science researcher during her second year, where she clarified her interest in making technologies such as AI more accessible across sectors. One of her projects was designing a generative AI program to make visual art more accessible to blind and low vision (BLV) users, which led her to publish a paper and present at the 2024 AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence.</p><p>At 91ֱ��, where she’s majoring in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science">computer science</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics">mathematics</a>, Shende is active in the undergraduate research community. She joined BRANCHES as a community leader, helping to create inclusive programming and support networks for STEM students. She later became a research ambassador for OUR, guiding students as they entered the undergraduate research space.</p><p>Shende also utilized resources from the <a href="/career">Career Exploration and Development (CED) office</a> to expand her understanding of technology from policy and economic viewpoints. She worked with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomacy Lab and served as a student delegate to the Athens Democracy Forum, examining AI and other technologies from the perspective of governance and public policy.</p><p>In addition, Shende volunteers at the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio, where she supports adult learners navigating barriers such as childcare and technology access. “I am building a provider–service database and prototyping a web platform and Large Language Model-based assistant that guides learners toward appropriate programs and enables smoother, more accountable handoffs.”</p><p>Shende was selected as a Goldwater Scholar and spent last summer at the MIT Summer Research Program in the Media Lab. “Altogether, my CELA experiences have grounded my academic journey in purpose, equity, and community. They shaped the researcher I am now and the one I hope to become as I move into graduate study and work at the intersection of technology, policy, and society.”</p><p>Shende is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Computer science and math major Tanisha Shende ’26 combines high-level AI research with global policy to create equitable technology.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-23T12:00:00Z">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4153">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4150">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Finding Confidence and Community Through 91ֱ��’s Bonner Scholars Program</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:05:03 +0000</p> <span>Finding Confidence and Community Through 91ֱ��’s Bonner Scholars Program</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-23T13:05:03-04:00" title="Monday, March 23, 2026 - 13:05">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:05</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Erica Vu ’26 credits the <a href="/bcsl/programs/bonner-scholars">Bonner Scholars Program</a> within the <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA)</a> with helping her find her confidence, her community, and her sense of purpose at 91ֱ��.</p><p>As a Bonner Scholar, Vu has taken on a wide range of volunteer projects and leadership roles while at 91ֱ��. Since her first semester, she has committed much of her time to the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra (NOYO). There, she learned the behind-the-scenes logistics of orchestral performances and eventually took on a new role as a production assistant. “While it was a lot of work, I saw that I have the potential to be a leader and that I am a valued asset to my work environment,” she says.</p><p>Vu also spent a summer working as a camp counselor at the Teen Action Support Center in Northwest Arkansas. “I worked with a team of social work graduate students to provide a free summer program for teens ages 13-17 within the probation system, allowing them to gain new, enriching experiences,” she says. 91ֱ��’s <a href="/career">Career Exploration and Development (CED) office</a> helped her fine-tune her resume, draft a cover letter, and prepare for her interview as she pursued this role.</p><p>Seeking an opportunity beyond the Bonner Program, Vu applied for funding through CED’s <a href="/career/set/internship-plus">Internship+ Program</a> to volunteer with 91ֱ��’s Legion Garden. With that support, she spent a summer living on campus and volunteering full time at the garden.</p><p>Vu is also deeply involved in 91ֱ��’s undergraduate research community. A mathematics major, she conducts research on campus and serves on the <a href="/clear/tutoring/branches-community-leaders">BRANCHES</a> team, helping to plan inclusive events that connect STEM students with research and career opportunities. She also serves on the Bonner leadership team. “My college adventure would not have been as fulfilling without the community that I was introduced to as a Bonner.”</p><p>Vu continues to volunteer at NOYO as the production assistant manager and checks in often with her friends at Legion Garden. After graduating, she plans to continue working in the nonprofit sector. “Uplifting, engaging, encouraging, and working with my community to empathetically strive for a better world isn’t what many people think of when they hear about math majors, but I want to challenge myself to change that narrative.”</p><p>Vu is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By pairing mathematics research with hands-on nonprofit leadership and youth mentorship, Erica Vu ’26 is charting a community-centered path beyond 91ֱ��.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-23T12:00:00Z">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4150">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>From Capitol Hill to Mellon Mays: A Journey in Engaged Scholarship</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:52:57 +0000</p> <span>From Capitol Hill to Mellon Mays: A Journey in Engaged Scholarship</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-23T12:52:57-04:00" title="Monday, March 23, 2026 - 12:52">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:52</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>With guidance and resources from the <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA)</a>, Aina Tasso ’27 has drawn meaningful connections between her coursework and community engagement, learning how best to serve the causes that matter most to her.</p><p>Before coming to 91ֱ��, Tasso was selected for the <a href="/bcsl/programs/bonner-scholars">Bonner Scholars Program</a>, 91ֱ��’s community service scholarship program that mentors undergraduate students as they develop as leaders and agents of change in their communities and beyond. As a Bonner Scholar, Tasso volunteered with the 91ֱ�� City School District through the America Reads/Counts Program, tutoring students in grades K–9 in math. She also worked with the El Centro Volunteer Initiative, which connects 91ֱ�� students, faculty, and community members with Latine residents in Lorain County through community engagement and educational outreach.</p><p>Tasso later continued her commitment to service through a <a href="/career/set/wt">winter term micro-internship</a> in the U.S. Congress, where she advocated for Somali refugees in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District. Another winter term micro-internship took her to Medellín, Colombia, where she studied peace processes and justice through sustainability initiatives.</p><p>Wanting to dive deeper into her coursework on the experiences of Afro-Latine women in higher education, Tasso applied to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program. Mellon Mays fellows receive two years of close mentorship to pursue research in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. Tasso’s project focuses on raising awareness and education about the Afro-Peruvian community.</p><p>Through her combined coursework, service, and research, Tasso has grown to understand the value of co-curricular experiences as she prepares for a life and career in community stewardship. “While having access to knowledge on a wide variety of topics is enriching, being able to apply them in a tangible way allows me to see the impact of a well-rounded education,” she says. “My time at 91ֱ�� and my engagement with different CELA offices have also made me realize that theory without application does nothing, but action without information can harm the people you are working with.</p><p>“The opportunities I have gotten through CELA have allowed me to see the real-world applications of theories I’ve learned in various classes,” she adds. “These experiences not only allow me to build upon and improve my skills, but also to contribute meaningfully to the organizations that I am a part of.”</p><p>After 91ֱ��, Tasso, who has a double major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/law-and-society">law and society </a>and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies">Hispanic studies</a>, plans to pursue a PhD and continue engaging with social issues as both an academic and a public servant.</p><p>Tasso is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Blending community-based service, international experiential learning, and Mellon Mays research, Aina Tasso ’27 is building a future rooted in scholarship and community engagement.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-23T12:00:00Z">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2376">Study Away</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/law-and-society" hreflang="und">Law and Society</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">Hispanic Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>From Ninde Tutor to Future Pediatrician</h1> <p>kviancou — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:56:54 +0000</p> <span>From Ninde Tutor to Future Pediatrician</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-13T13:56:54-04:00" title="Friday, March 13, 2026 - 13:56">Fri, 03/13/2026 - 13:56</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">The Center for Engaged Liberal Arts</a> (CELA) has helped Ellie Pollock-Ballard ’26 refine her goals of becoming a pediatrician and volunteering in the nonprofit sector.</p><p>With support from 91ֱ��'s <a href="/bcsl">Bonner Center</a>, Pollock-Ballard, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology">biology</a> major, obtained her first volunteer role with the Ninde Scholars Program. As a Ninde tutor, she worked one-on-one with high school students in the 91ֱ�� City School District. “Working with my scholars at the local high school has helped me uncover my desire to work with youth and support them in pursuing their endeavors,” she says.</p><p>Pollock-Ballard later volunteered as a tutor with the America Counts program, where she worked with local elementary school students. In this role, she expanded her mentorship experience to younger learners.</p><p>Further developing her passion for service, Pollock-Ballard spent a winter term volunteering with 91ֱ�� Community Services (OCS). There, she learned how the needs of different communities vary and was inspired to continue serving beyond her four weeks.</p><p>During a summer internship, Pollock-Ballard joined the development team at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio, a nonprofit serving children and families. She balanced day-to-day operational tasks with strategic and logistical work behind the scenes. “It was incredible to see how both sides of the house work together to achieve their mission of ‘keeping families close.’”</p><p>CELA also helped Pollock-Ballard strengthen her interests and skills in medical research. As a fellow in the 91ֱ�� Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (OSURF) program—now known as the <a href="/undergraduate-research/osri">91ֱ�� Summer Research Institute</a> Fellowship—she worked in a developmental biology lab. “Clinical research is a key component of medicine, so it was important to me to gain experience conducting research as an undergraduate to help set myself up for success on my journey to become a physician.”</p><p>During a later winter term, Pollock-Ballard shadowed a pediatrician at a local clinic. This experience reaffirmed her interest in pediatrics and helped her develop practical interpersonal skills essential to the profession. </p><p>Her experiences working with and mentoring children have deepened her sense of purpose. She now plans to pursue a medical degree and become a pediatrician, while continuing her commitment to nonprofit service.</p><p>Pollock-Ballard is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through hands-on service, nonprofit leadership, and undergraduate research, Ellie Pollock-Ballard ’26 is building a future in pediatric medicine rooted in community care.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-13T12:00:00Z">Fri, 03/13/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4064">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>From the Great Lakes to the East Coast: Connecting Research and Service</h1> <p>kviancou — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:19:57 +0000</p> <span>From the Great Lakes to the East Coast: Connecting Research and Service</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-11T16:19:57-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 11, 2026 - 16:19">Wed, 03/11/2026 - 16:19</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Nyrobi Whitfield ’26 found that learning beyond the classroom through 91ֱ��’s <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for the Engaged Liberal Arts </a>(CELA) has informed her personal values as well as her plans for the future.</p><p>Whitfield began her CELA journey at 91ֱ�� as a member of the <a href="/undergraduate-research/programs/strong">STRONG</a> and <a href="/bcsl">Bonner Scholars</a> programs, which she cites as integral to establishing a sense of confidence and intentionality in her research pursuits.</p><p>Run by 91ֱ�� Undergraduate Research (OUR), the STRONG Scholars Program provides a specialized first-year experience designed to help students adapt to college and thrive in their STEM journey at 91ֱ��, including early research opportunities, close mentoring from STEM faculty and staff, community building, and academic skill-building for STEM courses.</p><p>Whitfield’s first research experience through STRONG was in Professor Rachel Eveleth’s aquatic science lab. It was there that she connected her passion for swimming with her interest in environmental and geological science, studying the biogeochemistry of the Great Lakes.</p><p>After her first-year research experience at 91ֱ��, Whitfield conducted marine ecology research at UConn Avery Point’s summer program. There, she put classroom material into action, gaining hands-on experience studying coastal environments. “Concepts that once lived only in lecture notes—nutrient cycling, species interactions, environmental gradients—became tangible in the ecosystems I was studying,” she says.</p><p>The Bonner Scholars Program is a four-year scholarship that provides selected students with community service and leadership opportunities. For her Bonner service, Whitfield worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor, which demonstrated to her the value of making a difference in the lives of others through community engagement. Additionally, as an eco rep for the Office of Environmental Sustainability, Whitfield connects her passion for environmental science with real-world event management and campus engagement, further affirming her commitment to service.</p><p>“Together, these two experiences taught me something central to my CELA journey: impact is not only measured by scale, but by intention.”</p><p>Now, Whitfield—who is double-majoring in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences">geoscience</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies">environmental studies</a>—is a research ambassador for OUR. In that role, she helps fellow students forge their own paths through research and community engagement, drawing from her experiences in Bonner, STRONG, and CELA more broadly. “Being a research ambassador feels like the natural extension of everything Bonner and STRONG taught me.</p><p>“Each opportunity taught me something different, yet all reinforced the same lesson: learning extends far beyond the classroom,” she adds. “It happens in community pools, labs, offices, and during late-night conversations—wherever students show up with purpose.”</p><p>After graduating, Whitfield plans to pursue a PhD in marine ecology and a career in climate change research. “My CELA journey has given me the tools, values, and sense of purpose I will carry with me as I begin my post-91ֱ�� path.”</p><p>Whitfield is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">A STRONG Scholar, Bonner Scholar, and research ambassador, Nyrobi Whitfield ’26 blends marine ecology research, community engagement, and experiential learning to shape a career path.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-11T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/11/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4095">Environmental Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences" hreflang="und">Geosciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Students Create Project That Engages Local Hospital Patients and Nursing Home Residents</h1> <p>cstrauss — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 21:31:49 +0000</p> <span>Students Create Project That Engages Local Hospital Patients and Nursing Home Residents</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-06-04T17:31:49-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 4, 2024 - 17:31">Tue, 06/04/2024 - 17:31</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“It all kept coming back to how important it was to have important people around you—people that cared,” says Grammy-winning composer and Associate Professor of Horn Jeff Scott, describing the essence behind Meera Bhatia and Emily Nixon’s community engagement project as well his commission, <em>Two Orchids</em>.</p> <p>The project all started in March 2022 as the brainchild of Monument, Colorado native and fourth-year oboist and English horn player Meera Bhatia. At this time, Bhatia had an unexpected visit to the emergency room at Mercy Allen Hospital and underwent abdominal surgery that resulted in a week-long hospital stay and months of formal recovery. </p> <p>“As I was lying there in the hospital bed, I reached for the only thing I had in the moment—music,” Bhatia recalls. She describes skimming through recordings of oboe pieces until eventually coming across Augusta Reed Thomas’s <em>Song Without Words</em>, which “provided the only few minutes for that eight-week period where I was not in pain or worried about the future.” </p> <p>For Bhatia, this experience was transformative and helped her realize that music can be a tool for hope, strength, and emotional validation. </p> <p>Experienced in community engagement through the <a href="/bcsl/programs/ninde-scholars">Ninde Scholars Program</a>, <a href="/community-music-school">91ֱ�� Community Music School</a>, and Conservatory coursework, Bhatia set out to give back to the same community at Mercy Allen Hospital that provided her crucial emotional and physical support during moments of distress. </p> <p>“In her darkest hours, the first thing she thought about was to give back,” Scott says about Bhatia. “The first thing was, ‘how can I say thank you in a grand way? To the people who took care?’ That's the first thing she thought about. And that really spoke so much about who she is as a person.”</p> <p>In the spring of 2023, music education professor <a href="/jody-kerchner">Jody Kerchner</a> identified an overlap between Bhatia’s initiative and Aloca, Tennessee native Emily Nixon’s ’23 interest in music therapy. Both pursuing the<a href="/conservatory/divisions/pace/integrative-concentration"> PACE (Pedagogy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement) Integrative Concentration</a>, Bhatia and Nixon joined forces and began preparing for their visits. </p> <p>“I loved Meera’s vision for the project and very much wanted to be a part of it and help out in any way that I could,” says Nixon. “Meera and I met for coffee toward the end of the spring semester and shared with each other our interest in bringing music to Mercy Allen and the greater 91ֱ�� community, and she graciously let me join in.”</p> <p>A bulk of their preparations consisted of applying for the inaugural <a href="/bcsl/bulletins/gletherow-young-deppman-project-award">Gletherow-Young-Deppman Project Award</a>, which is reviewed and awarded through the <a href="/bcsl">Bonner Center for Community Engagement Learning, Teaching, & Research</a>. The award allows recipients to utilize prior coursework and explore professional interests through direct and practical community engagement work. Bhatia and Nixon’s proposal described their project in depth: meeting with three to four patients for 30 minutes, asking what kind of emotion they want to hear reflected musically, playing corresponding portions of larger works, and discussing the listener’s experiences afterwards.</p> <p>A crucial element of their proposal was the use of funds to commission Jeff Scott to write a piece commemorating the project and “all of the stories told in the common room of the Mercy Allen Hospital as a tribute to 91ֱ�� community members.” Upon receiving the award in May 2023, the two students began meeting with Scott not only to workshop the piece, but also to develop a deeper connection with each other and better understand what the project should represent. </p> <p>Scott explains, “I really wanted to find out what they considered to be important, especially when I'm being commissioned to write something. I like to know what people value. In the conversations, we talked about everything—parents, vacations, brothers, sisters—and it all kept coming back to relationships. It all kept coming back to how important it was to have important people around you—people that cared,” says Scott. “So when I set about writing the piece, and I was thinking about the hospital and the home for the aged, I thought, ‘Boy, how important are relationships when you're isolated in that capacity?’”</p> <p>Throughout the composing process, Scott met with Bhatia and Nixon several times to workshop snippets. “It's not something I usually do,” he says, noting the uniqueness of the project even for him, “I usually might send one draft and then finish the piece, but it's such a personal piece, and it wasn't only for two musicians—I really wanted it to be <em>for them</em>.”</p> <p>The piece, titled <em>Two Orchids</em>, is a duet for flute and oboe and symbolizes two women of advanced age with a strong bond. One is more melancholy and reflective, and the other is a prankster who keeps her counterpart from getting overly serious. The work is divided into multiple sections by subtitles that indicate the women sharing various stories and recalling different memories. The inscription on the piece is “To honor the stories of resilience found at the edges of our collective consciousness.” </p> <p>Following the initial proposal, Kerchner suggested visiting Welcome Nursing Home, which was incorporated into the project’s final form. From November 2023 to March 2024, Bhatia and Nixon made two visits every week: one to Mercy Allen Hospital and one to Welcome Nursing Home. During these visits, the two instrumentalists played duets and conversed with listeners about music, culminating in two separate premiers of Scott’s <em>Two Orchids</em>: Mercy Allen Hospital on April 19 and Welcome Nursing Home on April 21.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Mercy Allen Hospital staff supported Bhatia and Nixon, attending the premiere of the piece inspired by the students' interactions with patients. 91ֱ�� faculty Jeff Scott and Jody Kerchner also attended the performance.</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>“Everyone, regardless of what stage of life they are in,” says Bhatia, “should feel part of the 91ֱ�� community. And it is our hope that, through this project, more people feel seen as part of the community.” It was a point emphasized in the artists' proposal, which they described as a “symbiotic alliance" between them and the patients and staff at Mercy Allen Hospital and Welcome Nursing Home.</p> <p>91ֱ�� students, faculty, and Mercy staff and patients alike rejoiced in the success and positive reception of the project, which left an indelible impact on Mercy Allen Hospital and the broader 91ֱ�� musical and cultural community. “People recognize it as the notes that were written by someone,” said Scott, “but it becomes something really, really special because you're putting <em>you</em> into it.”</p> <p>In May 2024, Bhatia, Nixon, and Scott met in the Conservatory’s <a href="/clonick-hall">Clonick Hall</a> for a formal audio and video recording session of <em>Two Orchids</em> that will be made available to the public soon.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Meera Bhatia ’23 and Emily Nixon ’23 visit local hospital and nursing homes, commissioning and premiering a piece by Jeff Scott through the Gletherow-Young-Deppman Project Award</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-06-04T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/04/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">George Rogers</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3319">Community Engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37361">Oboe</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35911">Flute</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jody-kerchner" hreflang="und">Jody Kerchner</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Oboist Meera Bhatia ’23 and flutist Emily Nixon ’23 meet in Mercy Allen Hospital's lobby before going off to perform for patients.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jacob Strauss</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Teachable Moments</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 19 May 2023 16:31:55 +0000</p> <span>Teachable Moments</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-19T12:31:55-04:00" title="Friday, May 19, 2023 - 12:31">Fri, 05/19/2023 - 12:31</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Nicolas Zamora’s 91ֱ�� life became grounded in teaching and service. In four years as a Bonner Scholar with the <a href="/node/4416">Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research</a>, he served as a literacy assistant, a tutoring leader for America Reads, and as a teacher of Spanish at the nearby Kendal retirement community.</p> <p>He even co-taught six semesters of an Experimental College (<a href="https://www.oberlin-exco.org/">ExCo</a>) course on astrology—beginning in his first year on campus.</p> <p>“Being a <a href="/node/55501">Bonner Scholar </a>helped me understand how to use my leadership skills and become aware of issues faced by my communities," says the fourth-year <a href="/node/3391">politics</a> major from Miami.</p> <p>Now Zamora is preparing for the next step in his journey: Over the next year, he will teach English language and lead a Model United Nations program at a high school in Madrid, Spain. It’s an opportunity made possible through a Fulbright Fellowship. </p> <p>“Being able to work in a school throughout my time in 91ֱ�� has given me the opportunity to help positively influence children’s minds and grow close with them,” he says. “There are children I have known for four years now and will have to say goodbye to, but I want to form that bond with the new students that I will be teaching.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Nicolas Zamora’s 91ֱ�� experience prepared him for the classrooms of Spain.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-22T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/22/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tyler Applegate</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4821">Africana Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4796">Hispanic Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/claire-solomon" hreflang="und">Claire Solomon ’98</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/africana-studies" hreflang="und">Africana Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">Hispanic Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32088" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--quotemark" data-text-color-red data-text-size-giant> <p>Spain called me, and I picked up the phone.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27725" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>For Zamora, the process of applying for a Fulbright was instrumental in sorting out his aspirations.</p> <p>“I started to think about what I wanted to do after I graduate,” he says. “The main answer I had was that I wanted to live abroad and immerse myself in a new culture—experiencing intercultural exchange has become a main life goal of mine.” Zamora got his first taste of this goal when he studied away in Amsterdam during his junior year. A year later, he accepted his Fulbright award with an opportunity to once again venture across the pond and immerse himself in that European culture he fell in love with.</p> <p>As he puts it: “Spain called me, and I picked up the phone.”</p> <p>During his time at 91ֱ��, Zamora became involved with the <a href="/node/320546">Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion</a>, serving as a trainer for the Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct (<a href="/node/127941">PRSM</a>) program and helping with mandatory Title IX training for students. He completed an internship in advocacy and public policy at the Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation in his hometown, where his work involved research and creation of resources to educate low-income citizens on how to advocate for themselves and their communities. This role deeply enriched his understanding of community needs and ignited a passion for using education as a tool for empowerment.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Among Zamora's numerous 91ֱ�� mentors was Susan Pavlus (left), director of education outreach at the Bonner Center. (photo by Tanya Rosen-Jones '97)</figcaption> </figure> <p>Zamora doesn't have a clear vision of his career plans post-Fulbright, and he’s comfortable with the uncertainty. “I want to see if I enjoy teaching high-schoolers or if I want to pursue further education,” he says, adding that he’s interested in graduate studies in political communication or public policy. “But I hope to continue living in Europe and making new connections wherever I end up.”</p> <p>He is effusive in his thanks to the faculty and staff who supported him through his 91ֱ�� journey, among them professor <a href="/node/5856">Claire Solomon</a> in <a href="/node/3206">Hispanic studies</a>—one of Zamora’s two minors, along with <a href="/node/3431">Africana studies</a>—and the staff of the Bonner Center, most notably Director of Education Outreach Programs <a href="/node/31811">Susan Pavlus</a>.</p> <p>“I also want to thank my mom and all my friends,” he adds. “It takes a community, and they are mine.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Paintbrush Empowerment</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 15 May 2023 22:56:45 +0000</p> <span>Paintbrush Empowerment</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-15T18:56:45-04:00" title="Monday, May 15, 2023 - 18:56">Mon, 05/15/2023 - 18:56</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Mufalo Mufalo speaks to his homeland with a paintbrush instead of a megaphone.</p> <p>The first-year 91ֱ�� student learned to paint from his late father back in their homeland of Zambia, a landlocked nation in southern Africa. Before long, Mufalo was painting at a nationally recognized art school, winning awards at festivals, participating in a national exhibition—even presenting an oil portrait to Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda. </p> <p>He has painted murals promoting public safety messages during the pandemic. He even fashioned his passion into a homegrown initiative: In 2019—<em>at age 15</em>—he founded Our Art Africa, a nonprofit that focuses on community outreach through art.</p> <p>“I started Our Art Africa to help inspire young people in my community to use art to express themselves,” Mufalo said in 2020. “Through the initiative, I provide art supplies to schools and orphanages and conduct painting workshops. In these workshops, I encourage participants to follow their own individuality.”</p> <p>Beginning this summer, Mufalo will do more of the same—this time with the support of a Projects for Peace grant secured with help from 91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/4526">Office of Fellowships and Awards</a>, part of the <a href="/node/396216">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts</a>, or CELA.</p> <p>“A simple mural that highlights a social issue in a society can have more impact than a protest,” Mufalo wrote in his successful application for the highly competitive grant, which provides $10,000 for innovative community projects pursued mostly during the summer.</p> <p></p> <p>Mufalo headlined his application “African Graffiti as a Driver for Change.” He recounted the way news of his pandemic mural quickly spread on social media, and how many people photographed it. “I realized that, for some people, it was more than just about the subject; it was about bringing aesthetics into the neighborhood.”</p> <p>Mufalo dedicated his first Winter Term at 91ֱ�� to painting yet another mural near his hometown of Mongu, Zambia. He was encouraged to apply for the Projects for Peace grant by <a href="/node/175641">Deanna Bergdorf</a>, director of 91ֱ��’s <a href="/winter-term">Office of Winter Term</a>, which is also part of CELA.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Paintings by Mufalo Mufalo</figcaption> </figure> <p>Projects for Peace grants were endowed in 2007 at Middlebury College by the late investor, artist, and activist Kathryn Wasserman Davis, who challenged recipients “to bring about a mind-set of preparing for peace instead of preparing for war.”</p> <p>Mufalo’s project will involve collaboration with other artists to paint murals in three Zambian towns: Lusaka, Mongu, and Livingstone, featuring subjects yet to be determined. He also plans to distribute more supplies. “I hope to inspire young people who want to make a difference in their communities,” he says. He expects to complete his project from June through August, finishing in time for fall semester of his sophomore year.</p> <p>Prior to attending 91ֱ��, Mufalo was invited to take up high school studies at the African Leadership Academy in South Africa, many hundreds of miles from his home. His education there revolved around the school’s mission to prepare young people from throughout Africa for lives of ethical and entrepreneurial leadership.</p> <p>Although he had never left Africa before coming to 91ֱ��, Mufalo met many American students at the academy, and they prepared him for life in Ohio—even the weather. “It gets a bit too cold sometimes compared to where I’m from,” he says, “but I prefer cold to hot.”</p> <p>With plans to pursue studies in both art and neuroscience, Mufalo currently takes two drawing classes, an introduction to narrative art, an introduction to Africana studies, and a neuroscience lab. In only his first year on campus, he quickly fell into a role that deftly combines his two passions: designing covers for the campus neuroscience publication <a href="https://synapsemagazine.org/"><em>The Synapse</em></a>.</p> <p>He is also a Bonner Scholar, a program of <a href="/node/4416">91ֱ��’s Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research</a>. Bonner Scholars engage in community-service initiatives throughout their 91ֱ�� experience; Mufalo volunteers as an assistant at the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts in downtown 91ֱ��.</p> <p>He credits neuroscience professor <a href="/node/50471">Chris Howard</a> and Bonner Scholars director <a href="/node/29791">Brittnei Sherrod</a> for helping him map out his future. After graduation, he hopes to pursue animation and create works with African characters.</p> <p>A self-described introvert who tends to stick to his easel, Mufalo likes 91ֱ��’s small size. But he has gotten involved in numerous ways: He plays club soccer on campus and designs advertisements for African Student Association events.</p> <p>“It’s the right place for me,” he says. “91ֱ�� has provided me with financial support and exposure to other opportunities as an artist.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mufalo Mufalo inspires expression through art across his native Africa.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-15T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/15/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Grant Segall</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25436">Studio Art</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/christopher-howard" hreflang="und">Christopher Howard</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/art" hreflang="und">Studio Art</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Mufalo Mufalo</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Taking Passion to the Pavement</h1> <p>tapplega — Fri, 05 May 2023 17:14:08 +0000</p> <span>Taking Passion to the Pavement</span> <span><span>tapplega</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-05T13:14:08-04:00" title="Friday, May 5, 2023 - 13:14">Fri, 05/05/2023 - 13:14</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/55501">Bonner Scholars</a> program has been connecting classrooms to communities for more than 30 years. Operated by the <a href="/node/4416">Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research</a> and supported by the national <a href="http://www.bonner.org/">Bonner Foundation</a>, the scholars program provides four-year community service scholarships to approximately 60 91ֱ�� students who are the first in their families to attend college or come from underrepresented populations. Bonner Scholars participate in intensive, developmental community-engagement experiences throughout their time at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>Each year, approximately 15 incoming first-year students are selected as Bonner Scholars. Their experience is guided by designated student leaders, who lead community projects and engage with the entire campus community about service opportunities. Fourth-year Bonner leader Ari Leandry majors in <a href="/node/3216">comparative American studies</a> with minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history">history</a> and <a href="/node/3426">gender, sexuality, and feminist studies</a>, and an integrative concentration in <a href="/node/322091">journalism</a>. Her previous Bonner work has revolved around <a href="https://prochoiceohio.org/">NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio</a>—a reflection of her deep passion for reproductive justice and mutual aid. A native of nearby Lorain, Ohio, Leandry finds herself serving the very community in which she was raised.</p> <p>We asked Leandry about her life as a Bonner Scholar.</p> <p><strong>Can you describe the Bonner Scholar Program to someone who is unfamiliar?</strong></p> <p>The Bonner Scholar Program provides an outlet for students passionate about social justice and service to further engage with their greater college community. Bonner enables these students to build connections that will help them personally and professionally. </p> <p><strong>How has your service corresponded to social issues you care about?</strong></p> <p>I was always interested in engaging with reproductive justice efforts, but I did not know how to pursue this interest. Through Bonner, I had support to seek out opportunities to work with reproductive justice organizations in Ohio and understand how I can turn this passion into an actual career. I was able to explore my interest in reproductive justice and grassroots activism. I built connections in my field that I otherwise would not have found if it weren't for Bonner's encouragement of exploring academic and personal interests through service. I appreciate the diversity of service opportunities that Bonner provides, and I feel fortunate to have been able to connect with reproductive justice advocates in Ohio and build a greater personal network in this issue area.</p> <p><strong>How has your Bonner experience influenced your time at 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <p>Bonner allowed me to build strong relationships and connections with other students who shared my passion for community service and social justice. Through Bonner, I was able to participate in meaningful and impactful service projects, which not only contributed to the community but also allowed me to develop my skills in leadership and teamwork.</p> <p><strong>What have you learned about the 91ֱ�� community through your service?</strong></p> <p>One of the things that I have learned is the extent to which social justice and equity are at the forefront of people's minds. I have also learned about the importance of collaboration and partnership in addressing community needs.</p> <p><strong>What is unique to you about the Bonner Scholar Program?</strong></p> <p>What makes Bonner unique is the tight-knit community that accompanies it. The support and guidance of the Bonner staff and my fellow Bonner Scholars helped me navigate the challenges of college life and find a sense of belonging on campus. They provided me with resources, advice, and encouragement that allowed me to thrive academically and personally.</p> <p><strong>Share a fond Bonner memory!</strong></p> <p>I loved getting to connect more deeply with my fellow Bonner Scholars at our Fall Bonner Retreat in 2021!</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Dedication to reproductive rights fuels the service of Bonner Leader Ari Leandry.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-05T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/05/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tyler Applegate</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2382">Community Service</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25311">Comparative American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=181496">Journalism</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-american-studies" hreflang="und">Comparative American Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/journalism" hreflang="und">Journalism</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Ari Leandry</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>One Big Service-Oriented Family</h1> <p>tapplega — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:18:37 +0000</p> <span>One Big Service-Oriented Family</span> <span><span>tapplega</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-04-27T12:18:37-04:00" title="Thursday, April 27, 2023 - 12:18">Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:18</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/55501">Bonner Scholars</a> program has been connecting classrooms to communities since 1993. Operated by the <a href="/node/4416">Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research</a> and supported by the national <a href="http://www.bonner.org/">Bonner Foundation</a>, the scholars program provides four-year community service scholarships to approximately 60 91ֱ�� students who are the first in their families to attend college or come from underrepresented populations. Bonner Scholars participate in intensive, developmental community-engagement experiences throughout their time at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>Each year, 15 incoming first-year students are selected as Bonner Scholars. Their experience is guided by designated student leaders, who facilitate community projects and engage with the entire campus about service opportunities. </p> <p>Bonner leader Wyae’ Stewart is a third-year <a href="/node/3391">politics</a> major with minors in <a href="/node/3396">law</a> and <a href="/node/3431">Africana studies</a>. She is completing her service learning with the federal math education program <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories.html">America Counts</a> and has previously tutored local schoolchildren as a <a href="/node/56206">Ninde Scholar</a>, worked in the office of Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and with the National Society of Leadership and Success. A native of Atlanta, Stewart is committed to service in education and housing, and she’s taking the first steps to reform education across the country.</p> <p>We connected with Stewart to learn more about her work as a Bonner leader and how she fosters service at 91ֱ��.</p> <p><strong>What does the Bonner Scholars Program mean to you?</strong></p> <p>The Bonner Scholar Program is a family that is not only committed to doing work with one another throughout our communities, but assisting each other on a daily basis to become better people for and with others.</p> <p><strong>How has your service with Bonner corresponded to social issues you care about?</strong></p> <p>Even though I am not working directly with educational policy at America Counts, I have interacted with students, teachers, and parents and gauged their views on how these children are being taught. In particular, I enjoy working closely with the kids, as I remember feeling how they felt when I was that age. Through this experience, I know that when I go into policy, there are aspects that I want to target to ensure that our students are safe in all aspects!</p> <p><strong>How has your service with Bonner influenced your time at 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Stewart repairs a bike wheel<br> at the Ohio City Bike Co-op in Cleveland.<br> (courtesy of Wyae' Stewart)</figcaption> </figure> <p>I came to 91ֱ�� blindly, without a visit, and with little knowledge of the school. As soon as I arrived, the Bonner program was extremely welcoming, which made finding a service site easier. Through my service, I have found mentors who continue to support me and guide me through my 91ֱ�� journey.</p> <p><strong>What have you learned about the 91ֱ�� community through your service?</strong></p> <p>I’ve learned that 91ֱ�� is a tight-knit community that is very engaged. I saw this more recently while working with my on-campus organization, ABUSUA [91ֱ��’s Black Student Union], where we partnered with the Black Student-Athlete Group to sponsor a block party to welcome community members to meet and interact with students in the college. Since I work in the school system and know many students and their parents, I used that connection to get the community involved. This event turned out to be a success because a lot of the students and their parents participated! We are excited to continue this partnership through the years. I know that my service with America Counts helped sponsor this connection, and I am forever grateful for that.</p> <p><strong>Can you share a favorite Bonner memory?</strong></p> <p>One of my most cherished Bonner memories was the All-Bonner Retreat! Though this is not a regular event, it was where I bonded with so many other Bonners who I never had the opportunity to interact with outside of All-Bonner meetings. I enjoyed playing our favorite games such as Mafia and singing karaoke.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The Bonner Scholars Program eased Wyae’ Stewart’s transition to 91ֱ��. Now she’s easing the way for others.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-04-27T12:00:00Z">Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tyler Applegate</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2382">Community Service</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25396">Law and Society</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4821">Africana Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/law-and-society" hreflang="und">Law and Society</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/africana-studies" hreflang="und">Africana Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Wyae' Stewart</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>