By Ashlyn Scearce- Assistant News Editor
The Bonner Program is a four-year, service-based college scholarship program that allows students to serve the community throughout their college experiences. The University of Lynchburg is one of the many colleges within the National Bonner Network. This program encourages students to participate in community service and help others located off-campus and around Lynchburg.
Bonner Leaders serve 10 hours per week at a nonprofit organization as a part of a work-study opportunity. They can also serve as leaders for their peers on campus.
Rutherig states, “I enjoy being a part of the Bonner Program and being able to see all of the other Bonner Leaders around campus and also in my classes”.
Members receive $3,000 distributed biweekly, plus a $1,000 annual scholarship. After completing four years in the program, seniors will receive an additional $1,000 scholarship.
One of the main highlights of this program is that students complete 300 hours of community service and academic training per academic year.
Stringer states, “This extra source of income I get every week is a huge help, especially when buying groceries and other necessities”.
Team-building activities are offered to Bonner Leaders to enhance their leadership skills. Every Tuesday, members of Bonner meet for two hours to discuss the current curriculum.
Tasha Gillum is the Coordinator of the Bonner Leader Program. She is there for support as many of the events are led by student Bonner Leaders.
Some of the organizations that partner with Bonner include YWCA, Brook Hill Farm, Lynchburg Fire Department, Camp Kum-Ba-Yah, Monacan Nation Ancestral Museum, Free Clinic of Central Virginia, Miriam’s House, Lynchburg City Schools, and Food for Thought.
Kaylin Rutherig, who is currently completing service at the YWCA, loves working at a women’s shelter. “I really love the people that I work with and proctoring child visitations every week; it gives me an early experience with my career choice in child advocacy or child psychology” says Rutherig.
Destin Stringer, another member of Lynchburg’s Bonner program, works in the dentistry department of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia., “Working with the Bonner Program has offered me so many opportunities and helped me decide what career path I want to pursue; I like being able to go to the Free Clinic every week because it feels like I’m not even working when I am there .”
For more information visit Bonner Leader Program – University of Lynchburg
Members of the Bonner Program during their Fall Bonner Intensive completed a clean-up at the Monacan Indian Nation on October 26, 2024. Photo taken by Erin Boder