Boston, MA – The national Campus Compact network has recognized three North Carolina students as 2015 Newman Civic Fellows: UNC Charlotte’s Sarah Whitmire, Elon University’s Nicole Molinaro, and UNC Asheville’s Runda Alamour. These students are among the 201 Newman Fellows from 36 states and the District of Columbia to be honored for making an investment in their communities through service, research, and advocacy.
Newman Civic Fellows are nominated by college or university presidents whose institutions are part of the Campus Compact network. This year saw a record number of students recognized.
“These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can—and does—play in building a better world,” said Dr. Richard Guarasci, chair of the Campus Compact board and president of Wagner College (NY).
Elon University Newman Fellow Nicole Molinaro
Elon University senior Nicole Molinaro has distinguished herself through service and advocacy related to international human rights and democratic participation. She taught English in Palestine and interned with social justice organizations in Jordan. At Elon, she led voter engagement campaigns and was president of the model United Nations.
In his nomination, President Leo Lambert praised Molinaro’s “deep” involvement in international social issues as well as her “intellectual curiosity, personal charisma, dedication to justice and ability to inspire her peers.”
UNC Asheville senior Runda Alamour is committed to education that respects differences and
UNC Asheville Newman Fellow Runda Alamour
builds community. As president of the statewide Student North Carolina Association of Educators, she has tutored in local schools, organized anti-bullying workshops, and led rallies in support of NC public education. Recently, Alamour organized a campus vigil and community conversation in honor of students killed in Chapel Hill.
“Whether it is in the classroom, in the community, or in statewide programming, Runda epitomizes the equity and advocacy that she so deeply values,” said UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary Grant.
UNCC Newman Fellow Sarah Whitmire
UNC Charlotte’s Sarah Whitmire is a third-year student who stands out for her on-campus and community-based health research. She has worked with faculty, with practitioners in Carolinas Healthcare System, and most notably with a group of women experiencing homelessness through a two-year community-based research project.
UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois wrote, “Although she has explored the relationship between health behaviors, education, and outcomes in multiple settings, she has always been driven to understand the intersection between the patient, the protocol, and the system.”
Named in honor of Dr. Frank Newman, one of the founders of Campus Compact, the award is sponsored by the KPMG Foundation. 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.
“We are proud to support Campus Compact in bringing attention to these extraordinary students,” said Bernard J. Milano, president of the KPMG Foundation and Campus Compact board member. “KPMG seeks a diverse talent pool of students who share our values, one of which involves service to the communities in which we live and work.”
Learn more about the national Campus Compact and the 2015 Newman Civic Fellows.