Sociology Major Names Newman Civic Fellow at MCLA| 07:50PM / Friday, April 28, 2017 | |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts sophomore Maggie Whited of Lincoln, Mass., was selected by the Campus Compact as the College’s 2017 Newman Civic Fellow.
According to the Campus Compact, Fellows tackle community challenges, provide fresh energy and perspective, inspire and mobilize others, and develop their own skills and potential. Through service, research and advocacy, Newman Fellows make the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.
As one of this year's Newman Civic Fellows, Whited – who majors in sociology at MCLA, with minors in social work and child and family studies – joins 200 other student leaders who represent Campus Compact member colleges and universities from 36 states and Washington, D.C.
Whited is a student leader at MCLA who is active in addressing issues of mental health awareness. For the last two years, she has worked to form the Association for Neurodivergent Awareness (ANA), an MCLA club. The ANA provides peer support and work against the stigma of mental health issues.
Whited also galvanized her peers in the Dance Company Club to volunteer regularly at a number of local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, the local soup kitchen, food pantry, and the local homeless/transitional shelter. Under her leadership, Dance Company even organized a Valentines Dance party for the local residents of the shelter.
Over her breaks from MCLA, Whited interns at Community Interventions Program (CIP) in Arlington. CIP is a short term adolescent and residential treatment program that services youth from the Department of Children and Families.
The award was created in honor of Campus Compact founder Dr. Frank Newman. Sponsored by the KPMG Foundation – it honors students who are committed to creating lasting change in their communities. Newman was a tireless advocate for the role of higher education in preparing students for active and engaged citizenship, according to the Compact.
This year's record amount of Fellows will leverage an even greater capacity for engagement and change through online networking, according to the Compact. In keeping with their generation’s emphasis on networks over hierarchies, Newman Civic Fellows will share ideas and materials to further their work through an exclusive online community especially for Fellows.
Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.
| 
MEMBER SIGN IN
