Montana Technological University Student Honored as Newman Civic Fellow

03/05/2020

Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 290 students who will make up the organization's 2020-2021 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. The 2020 cohort—the largest group of Newman Civic Fellows to date—includes Hilary VanVleet, a student at Montana Technological University.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program for students from Campus Compact member institutions. The students selected for the fellowship are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities locally, nationally, and internationally.

Hilary VanVleet, from Noxon, Montana, is a junior in Professional and Technical Communications with a concentration on public relations. Upon graduation, Hilary hopes to work as a public relations specialist in the Pacific Northwest, or as a technical writer. "I'm excited and honored to be named a Newman Civic Fellow," Hilary said. "I hope to use the opportunities and learning experiences I will gain from being a fellow so that I can become a better civic leader."

The fellowship is named in honor of the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact's founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman's leadership, Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors may nominate one student from their institution for the fellowship.

"My heartiest congratulations to Hilary," noted Montana Tech Chancellor Les Cook. "We are incredibly proud of Hilary and know she will continue to do great things in her role as a Newman Civic Fellow. This opportunity is fabulous for Hilary and our campus."

"I am excited to mentor Hilary as she works to help students gain access to higher education. I have known Hilary since she was a freshman, and working with her during her final year at Tech is a perfect match," noted Carrie Vath, Associate Vice Chancellor/Dean of Students.

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides the students with a variety of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth. Each year, Fellows are invited to a national, in-person conference of Newman Civic Fellows and participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.

"We are proud to recognize each of these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with them," said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. "The stories of this year's Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are committed to finding solutions to pressing problems in their communities and beyond. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it's what our country and our world desperately need."

The KPMG Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation support the Newman Civic Fellowship. Learn more at compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship.