From the president
Lila Seroy, a dedicated student leader at Raritan Valley Community College, exemplifies an unwavering commitment to advocacy, community empowerment, and education for disadvantaged youth. As a Newman Civic Fellow, Lila will continue her service at Visions and Pathways, a local nonprofit that supports at-risk and homeless youth. Through her service there, she addresses the lack of awareness and resources for youth who have aged out of foster care or are facing homelessness. Her work involves expanding the organization's outreach through digital marketing and community engagement to increase support and visibility for its vital programs. Lila has created and implemented a strategic social media campaign to highlight success stories and engage the community in supporting the cause. Lila works closely with Visions and Pathways staff, who provide mentorship as nonprofit marketing professionals and access to social media analytics tools. Lila’s strong work ethic, passion for social justice, and experience in digital marketing have helped her develop innovative approaches to raise awareness of an important community issue. Her dedication to creating collaborative solutions, along with the insight she’s gained from being part of a network of like-minded students, further strengthen her ability to address public problems and contribute to lasting change.
Personal Statement
As a sophomore in the Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Honors College with a 4.0 GPA, I am committed to leveraging my academic journey to address social issues. Serving as a Student Government Senator and RVCC Foundation Board Member, I have honed leadership skills through public policy discussions and community-based projects. My work as a service learning volunteer with the local nonprofit, Visions and Pathways, has allowed me to support homeless youth through social entrepreneurship and marketing outreach. Additionally, my service with the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce has deepened my understanding of community organizing and business development. I believe the root causes of many social issues stem from the lack of opportunity and access. Because of this, I use my social media platform—having grown my digital brand to over 250,000 followers—to amplify voices and create a community of engaged citizens. These entrepreneurial efforts demonstrate my commitment to fostering social change. I am excited about the opportunity to pursue the Newman Civic Fellowship, which would enhance my ability to address these challenges through innovative, community-based solutions.