The Campus Y at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announces 12 students who have been selected for the 2015-2016 Bonner Leaders Program. Launched in 2011, the program embodies Carolina’s commitment to public service and inclusivity by leveraging federal community service work-study funds to support undergraduate students in intensive service and social justice activities throughout their college careers.
Each fall, the Bonner Program selects a diverse group of incoming first-year students (nearly one-third are first-generation college students) through a competitive application process that emphasizes service, leadership and a passion to connect academics to social change.
Part of a nationwide network of more than 80 colleges and universities, Bonner Leaders commit to sustained community service, working with the same non-profit or public agency for four years. They also follow a student development model designed to engage them in addressing community-identified needs.
Students begin as direct-service volunteers with an organization, grow into project and site coordinators and ultimately engage in public policy and community-based research. The significant service requirement – more than 250 hours per year – is complemented by training and enrichment activities that aim to help students develop sustainable social justice initiatives.
Bonner Leaders is a campus-wide, interdisciplinary initiative involving both Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, staffed by the Campus Y. With its emphasis on diversity of experience, culture and community that empowers students’ ability to effect change and act as advocates, The Campus Y provides a fitting and unique home for this public service program.
Last year, the program reached full capacity, with four active cohort Bonner Leaders (49 students total) and approximately 9,800 total hours of community service. This year, the Carolina Bonner program welcomes its fifth cohort.
Newly accepted Bonners are listed below, alphabetically by North Carolina County and then by state.
Durham County
Samuel Christensen of Durham graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. He was a co-captain at the Durham Area Rocketry Team Outreach and taught English at a Chinese primary school. He volunteered at his local food bank and was a teacher at A Time For Science Nature Learning Center. He is fluent in Mandarin and practices Martial Arts. In the coming year, Christensen will be working at the Jackson Center.
Mecklenburg County
Clarissa Constanten of Charlotte graduated from Myers Park High School. Her high school service experience included bringing more than 100 lbs. of donations to Hamons, Jamaica, where she also dug trenches, helped build houses and tutored children. When she wasn’t abroad serving others, Constanten tutored at-risk students at Cotswold Elementary School and worked as the jury foreman for the Mecklenburg County Teen Court Program, helping to design alternative sentences for juveniles with misdemeanor offenses and no previous convictions. She is fluent in Norwegian and enjoys gaining power through vinyasa yoga. Constanten will be working with the local nonprofit T.A.B.L.E.
Sanah Ahmed of Charlotte graduated from Levine Middle College High School. Her time in high school was spent serving her community on various projects such as Hina’s Sunday school, where she volunteered as an assistant teacher. In addition, during the summer, Ahmed worked with the Burmese Refugee Center, engaging with a group of Georgian Burmese refugees in a Sunday School-like program. In her spare time, Ahmed enjoys taking cardio strength classes and writing blogs promoting social justice awareness. Ahmed will work with Blue Ribbon as a mentor-advocate.
Tayia Marable of Charlotte graduated from David W. Butler High School, where she was a senior mentor and assisted underclassmen by providing academic guidance. She hosted a dental hygiene supply drive, volunteered with both the Red Cross Blood Drive and the Community Blood Bank Blood Drive and was a Butler Academy of Health Sciences Ambassador. When she isn’t volunteering, Marable likes to travel and play volleyball. Marable will work with the RENA Center serving the Rogers Road community.
Gaston County
Jeffrey Kim of Belmont is an East Gaston High School graduate. During his high school career, Kim spent much of his time organizing service projects including the Hunger Crop Walk, the HOSA Club Canned Food Drive and the Annual Interact Christmas Event, which gives aid to financially challenged and underprivileged families in the Belmont area. When Kim is not promoting social justice in his community, he enjoys exercising and making people laugh. During his time as a Bonner Leader, Kim will be working at the Street Scene Teen Center.
Orange County
Aislinn Antrim of Chapel Hill spent much of her high school career serving her community. During high school, she volunteered at the Macedonia Family Center and Wesley Memorial UMC Missions Committee. Antrim tutored English to Cuban, Sudanese and Kenyan refugees and traveled overseas on a mission trip to Guatemala. In her free time, she enjoys taking pictures and practicing yoga. Antrim will be working in the Rogers Road community at the RENA Center.
Sunny Osment of Chapel Hill is a graduate of Chapel Hill High School. She is the founder of the Changing Our Reality organization, which works to end injustice and promotes safe learning environments for disenfranchised students in her school. In addition, Osment was a member of Youth Bridging Cultures and the Co-President of Girls Learn International. When she is not out advocating for social rights, she likes to hike and play the piano. Osment will work with Boomerang to reach out to local middle and high school students
Pasquotank County
Herminio Nunez of Elizabeth City graduated from Pasquotank County High School. He ran in marathons and races to raise money, was a member of Key Club and organized the donation organization, Teens for Jeans. Getting to volunteer at Benjamin House, an assisted-living residence where he befriended the residents, was his favorite experience with Key Club. Nunez also tutored math students and was president of his school’s literary club. In his free time, he enjoys writing poetry. Nunez will work with Sacrificial Poets to help local youth.
Pitt County
Jessi Zhou of Greenville graduated from D.H. Conley High School. She served her community by volunteering at Pitt County Animal Shelter, Vidant Medical Hospital and Love a Sea Turtle. During her senior year, Zhou worked in a lab at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, where she researched a multidisciplinary approach to fight senior dementia for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Disease. She enjoys painting, drawing and cheerleading. Zhou will be working with the local nonprofit Farmer Foodshare.
Stokes County
Araseli Valverde of Pinnacle graduated from Stokes Early College High School. Her service experience includes volunteering with Dynamy Gives Back, Samaritan Ministries and Chapel Hill’s Catalyst Conference. Valverde also worked as a Sunday School Teacher throughout high school and was captain of the Debate Team. She is fluent in Spanish and likes to play the piano. During her time with the Bonner Leaders program, Valverde will be working with Dobbins Hill.
Wake County
Isabella Hernandez of Raleigh graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. She participated in many multicultural activities including serving the Hispanic Cultures Club as their organization president, the Asian Cultures club as a choreographer and the Icelandic Studies Seminar course served as a student teacher. After high school, Hernandez was a Global Gap Year Fellow through UNC-Chapel Hill’s Campus Y. During her gap year, she spent time in India teaching Chemistry to high school students. In her free time, Hernandez enjoys drawing and is training for a marathon. Hernandez plans to spend her time as a Bonner Leader working with EmPOWERment, Inc.
Tennessee
Jemal Abdulhadi of Memphis graduated from White Station High School. Abdulhadi had a rich service career during high school. He raised money for Le Bonheur Hospital, was a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, volunteered at the Veterans Affairs Hospital and tutored students in Algebra and Spanish. He ran varsity track and field in high school and enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and being outdoors. Abdulhadi will be working with the Hargraves Community Center during his four years as a Bonner Leader.
Carolina Bonner Leaders Program website: http://bonner.unc.edu/
