The Frank Newman Leadership Award
The application deadline for The 2008 Frank Newman Leadership Award has passed. Award winners will be selected and announced mid-May. Applications for the 2009 award will open in January 2009.
The most important thing an institution does is not to prepare a student for a career, but for a life as a citizen.
Frank Newman
In 2004, the Newman family and Frank's many friends and admirers established The Frank Newman Leadership Fund to enable college students with demonstrated financial need and potential for leadership to receive financial assistance and mentoring, and to have a significant experience in civic leadership during their college years.
The fund supports The Frank Newman Leadership Award, which honors the unique legacy of Frank Newman by recognizing presidential leadership for civic engagement and exceptional students who have shown potential for civic leadership through community service and scholastic achievement.
Learn more about Frank Newman, and more about the Frank Newman Leadership Fund.
The Award
The Frank Newman Leadership Award provides financial support and mentorship to assist students achieve their civic and academic goals. Two $5,000 awards are available to undergraduate students at Campus Compact member colleges and universities.
Eligibility
All students at Campus Compact member two-year schools, and sophomores and juniors at member four-year schools, are eligible.
Award Criteria
- Evidence of civic leadership potential during the preceding 12-month period. Such potential is evidenced by academic achievement and the ability to create lasting change through civic action.
- Sustained commitment to public engagement and the community. The application should demonstrate the student's capacity to identify and begin to address the root causes of community issues through public policy or other efforts focused on creating positive change.
- Demonstrated financial need (as described in president's letter)
Application Requirements
- Online application form
- Student-written essay describing how they meet the selection criteria (up to 3 pages).
- Letter of Nomination from the applicant's president/chancellor describing the student's scholastic and community achievement, leadership potential, and financial need.
- Mentoring Plan (see below)
- Recent head-and-shoulder, high-quality photograph
- Commitment to attend award presentation (Austin, TX, June 30 - July 1, 2008). Campus Compact will cover expenses. The presentation of the Newman Award occurs at the Educational Leadership Colloquium, hosted by the Education Commission of the States where Frank Newman was president for 14 years. Campus Compact and ECS will provide visible opportunities at this event for the winning students to exercise leadership and discuss their civic work.
- If selected, a six-month follow-up/progress report on mentoring plan and civic work.
College Requirements — The Mentoring Plan
The Mentoring Plan is a pledge that the president/chancellor will provide mentoring and leadership development for the winning student for the following academic year and describes how this will occur. The Plan should describe regular contact between the president and student, ongoing support for the student from an appropriate staff member (i.e. community service director or faculty) and discuss specific opportunities for the student.
By pledging to build a mentoring relationship with the winning student, the president will foster civic leadership capacities and skills in the student and expose them to further leadership opportunities.
Selection Process
To recognize the excellent work of as many students as possible, and to build networks of student leaders around the country, state Compact offices will review all applications from students studying within their state and select state finalists to move on the to national selection process.
For Questions Regarding the Award
Contact Campus Compact at 401-867-3950 or awards2008@compact.org — please put "Newman Award" in the subject line.
Being a part of Campus Compact has let us touch the heart and soul of building better communities while improving teaching and learning for faculty and students. James A. Drake, President, Brevard Community College