ATHENS, W.Va. (Hinton News) – Concord University’s Bonner Scholarship Program, one of only 20 such service and student development programs funded by The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, continues to have regional and global impacts. This past summer, thirty-eight Bonner scholars participated in service at over forty sites in West Virginia and across the globe. They completed a combined total of 12,159 service hours, which amounts to an economic impact of $318,008.
According to Kathy Ball, Director of the program, “The Bonner scholarship provides funding to give students an opportunity to continue their service work and have in-depth experiences with programs and agencies in their communities during the summer months. Scholars can also choose to use the funds for other significant experiences, such as international service trips. Summer service is a major component of our program and can be one of the most impactful parts of a student’s experience as a Bonner scholar.”
Josi Ervin, a sophomore majoring in Health Science, worked as a youth camp counselor in Greenbrier County, West Virginia this past summer as part of her Bonner scholarship experience. While she was there, she cleaned and restocked cabins, washed dishes, ran the ropes course and zip line, put kayakers on the river, and ran laser tag. She says of the experience, “I absolutely loved working there as I got to watch kids come in and have the week of their life! They get to come in and really just be kids with no other worries. I really felt like it made a difference as I got to serve others all summer!”
Raheem Baptiste is a senior scholar majoring in Business Management. Over the summer, he worked as assistant coach for the St. David’s Football Club in St. David, Grenada. He helped with equipment management, planning sessions for the kids, overseeing the roster, and mentoring the athletes. Hurricane Beryl hit while he was there and had a severe impact on three neighboring islands, leaving people in need of food and shelter. The football club volunteered to help by distributing needed household items, and cleaning up neighborhoods. Raheem says of the experience, “I didn’t plan to go back home for the summer, but I ended up going, and I was there at a time when people were in need. I see that as timing and God.”
The University’s Bonner Scholarship Program began in 1991 when the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation in Princeton, NJ, recognized Concord’s commitment to community outreach and endowed the university with funds to support the program. Today, up to 80 students are supported each year with financial scholarships for academic endeavors at the university. The students then provide support to their communities through service work, in addition to participating in leadership and personal development activities. It is the goal of the program to develop experienced, knowledgeable, and committed individuals who recognize the needs of our society and each person’s responsibility to serve throughout their lifetime.
For more information about the Bonner Scholarship Program, contact Kathy Ball at 304-384-6009 or bonner@concord.edu.
