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Home > Initiatives > Awards Programs > Newman Civic Fellows Award 2013 > The 2011 Newman Civic Fellows > Erica Karrels, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota

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Erica Karrels, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota

Erica Karrels, a junior at the University of Minnesota Duluth is a student leader active in women’s rights issues.  As a Women’s Studies major, Erica has been committed to women’s issues and has been involved in service-learning classes connecting to social issues.  Through these curricular experiences she connected with the Program for Aid of Victims of Sexual Assault to become a Sexual Assault Advocate, volunteering on a weekly basis to advocate for women’s rights.  As President of “Students Engaged in Rewarding Volunteer Experiences” for the past 2 years she has built awareness for community issues while engaging students through service.

I have always had a drive to serve others and work for the common good. But I never fully realized that I could go beyond volunteerism--that my opinion and hard work could influence policy decisions. My views changed when I sat in the office of one of my legislators in Washington, DC."

-Amanda Coffin, University of Maine at Farmington, Campus Compact student leader