Czajkowski ΓÇÖ18 Receives 2017 Newman Civic Fellowship
31 March 2017 Czajkowski 18 Receives 2017 Newman Civic Fellowship
Rebecca Czajkowski 18 receivedone of Campus Compacts 2017 Newman Civic Fellowships, a prestigious national honor awarded to student leaders who have worked to find solutions for challenges facing their communities. As a participant in the one-year fellowship program, Czajkowski will have access to in-person and virtual learning opportunities, networking events and leadership mentoring.
An English and education double major with a minor in Spanish and Hispanic studies, Czajkowski is a tutor coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club of Geneva, which works to empower young people and the community through evidence-based programs and educational opportunities.
Rebeccas inquisitive and thoughtful nature allowed her to learn about our uniquely urban community, and she spent a great deal of time challenging assumptions about poverty and reflecting on how her skills could have a meaningful impact on our youth, says President Mark D. Gearan, who nominated Czajkowski for the honor. Her work will undoubtedly help ensure the quality of tutoring sessions next year, and I am confident she will have much to contribute to the network of Newman Fellows.
Currently, Czajkowski oversees HWS tutors and helps to create academic resources at the Boys and Girls Club. A member of the HWS Teacher Education Program, she also serves as a Civic Leader for the Center for Student Engagement and Service Learning and organizes the Colleges annual Remembrance of 9/11. She studied abroad in Costa Rica, and participated in the Alternative Spring Break service trip to Mariam Boyd Elementary School in Warrenton, N.C. This summer, she will hold an internship with the Boys and Girls Club of Geneva.
Czajkowski credits her passion for civic engagement with her decision, in her first year at HWS, to explore the opportunities to participate in the Geneva community. Now, in my junior year, she says, Ive experienced Geneva in the public schools, in weekly meetings of Tools for Social Change, on Geneva Nights Out and at the Community Lunch Program, in addition to her work with the Boys and Girls Club.
TheNewman Civic Fellowshipis open to students at member schools of Campus Compact, a national coalition for the advancement of the public purpose of colleges and universities. The coalition is dedicated to campus-based civic engagement in order to improve community life and develop students awareness of their civic and social responsibility.
The fellowship recognizes and supports students who havethe motivation and ability to make contributions to their society by demonstrating the social and civic leadership values of Dr. Frank Newman, a founder of Campus Compact. Support for the award is made possible by the KPMG Foundation and the Newmans Own Foundation.