Union’s Bonner Scholars Program Welcomes Largest Class Ever

Union College has welcomed the largest group of Bonner Scholars since the program began four years ago. The diverse group of 26 students hails from as near as Knox County to as far as Africa. Seventeen new members were accepted to the program over the summer and began their terms this school year: Adam Smith (Flat Lick), Rodolfo Forti (Campinas, Brazil), Fernanda Gastaldo (Jundiai, Brazil), Claudio Rubi (La Plata, Argentina), Hannah Sizemore (London), Joel Ali (Garland, TX), Andrew Arana (Harvey, LA), Archford Bandera (Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe), Tonika Clark (Island, KY), Lisa Fugate (Arjay), Josh Grubb (Manchester), Heather Leger (Barbourville), Kristi Merida (Bimble), Susan Montoya (Mimbres, NM), Chris Moore (Loveland, OH), Nikki Wilburn (Pearisburg, VA), and Jonathan Wilder (Stinnett)

New Bonner Scholars are chosen from applicants based on scholarship, leadership, and commitment to service. This new class of Bonners joins: Antonio Almeida (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), Carolina Costa (Campinas, Brazil), Melissa Day (New Albany, IN), Malesore Hajdini (Prishtina, Kosovo), Paulo Neto (Sorocaba, Brazil), Aggeliki Alimonos (Broomfield, CO), Ricardo Rodriguez (Norcross, GA), Amy Cobb (Woollum), and Jonathan Evans (Flat Lick).

The Bonner Scholars Program, sponsored by the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation of Princeton, NJ, is a four-year community service scholarship that exists to provide high quality services to its community through developing well-trained, committed volunteer leaders. It offers financial support to students from low-income backgrounds who want to attend college and provides them with an opportunity to engage in community service activities while in college. In exchange for working weekly at local non-profit agencies, Bonner Scholars are awarded scholarship funds to defray education expenses. Union College is one of twenty-five colleges nationwide that offer and support the Bonner Scholars Program.

The Bonner Scholars Program is beginning its fifth year at Union College. It has seen seven graduates of the program: Fernando Piza (Brazil), Misty Shepherd Pool (Smilax, KY), Karen Caldwell (Bristol, TN), Chris Howard (Stinnett, KY), Chris Bowling (Barbourville), Lucas Green (Harlan, KY), and Skyler York (Clarksville, TN). In addition to working in community agencies, Bonner Scholars also sponsor and participate in such services as Timeless Tales Reading Center, Knox County Repair Affair, Kids on the Block Puppet Shows, and Camp LEAD.

Union College is a learning community dedicated to creating personal, intellectual, and social transformation through the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, service, and spiritual growth. Founded in 1879, the College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

August 30, 2002

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