Bonner Foundation
In 1990-91, the Bonner program was created by The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation utilizing Berea College as their pilot school. The Bonner program was designed to provide access to higher education and an opportunity for students to serve. Today the Bonner Foundation is based out of Princeton University in Princeton, NJ and includes over 80 different colleges and universities in its network.
In the last 11 years, the Foundation has provided $9.5 million in grants to thousands of religious, community-based hunger relief programs across the country and has awarded more than $12 million in scholarship support to more than 2,500 students at 24 colleges. In addition, the Foundation has created a $5 million endowment at 7 schools to carry out the Bonner Scholars Program, which has become a nationally recognized service scholarship model.
WKU Bonner Leadership Scholar program
The Bonner Leadership Scholar program at WKU is a service scholarship available to students who have experience serving communities. WKU Bonner students dedicate ten hours a week of community service and receive a partial tuition scholarship from WKU. Bonner students are also eligible for an additional AmeriCorps education award to pay back school loans or save for future education costs.
The Bonner students at WKU are selected based on their service experience and goals, as well as financial aid eligibility. Once selected, they will begin a developmental journey of service and leadership that will not only pay a significant portion of their higher education costs, but also equip them with critical life skills and real world experience that will separate them from their job-seeking peers. Bonner students will learn what it means to become citizen professionals and effective agents of change.
Bonner students dedicate ten hours a week to community development projects organized by the campus and local nonprofit organizations. They also become a part of the national Bonner Network, engaging with Bonner students from colleges and universities across the nation. Through a service-learning model, Bonner students will lead collaborative efforts to make lasting impacts in the communities in which they serve.
Opportunities
Receive a scholarship or paid stipend and an AmeriCorps education award
Build lasting connections with service organizations
Serve in the community through a service-learning model to create positive change
Gain professional development training and enrichment
See the world: Students may have the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally.
Network and make connections with other Bonner students, professionals and organizations across the globe.
Requirements
- Must be a Kentucky resident
- Required to sign up for the ICSR Certificate program
- Dedicate 8-10 hours of community service
- Maintain an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
- Preference will be giving to first generation college students
- Submit electronically to leah.ashwill@wku.edu
- Deadline for application submissions is May 1, 2013
Application
Submit Application to leah.ashwill@wku.edu
Contacts
Leah Ashwill
Director of the ALIVE Center and Bonner Leadership Scholar program
270-782-0082
leah.ashwill@wku.edu
Lee Calvert
Coordinator of the Bonner Leadership Scholar program
270-782-0082
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