Bonner Program

Each Bonner is required to attend orientation, which usually occurs a few days prior to when they come on campus for the regular Weekend of Welcome and Gator Bound Orientation.

Orientation Overview

• Bonner Basics: What it means to commit to the Allegheny Bonner Program
• Introduction to Meadville and Our Community Partners
• Community Building with your new cohort
• Basics of Student Employment (Clearances, Student Employment paperwork, etc.)
• And more!

Our First Year students are also placed in the same LS-120 and LS-121 advising lab during their first year at Allegheny.

Bonner students participate in the Exploration Phase during their first semester in the program at Allegheny, which is an 8-week time frame. During this phase, students are encouraged to explore service and education opportunities to understand the work that they do as well as see what positions would be the best fit. After the 8 weeks, students receive a permanent placement where they will serve during their time at Allegheny.

Each Bonner commits to serving 140 hours each semester, working with their community partner on a consistent, weekly basis and attending weekly training and enrichment meetings.

Our Community Partners

• Meadville Public Library
• Center for Family Services
• Crawford County Mental Health Awareness Program
• Crawford Central School District
• Family and Community Christian Association
• Women’s Services INC
• Special Olympics of Crawford County
• Tamarack Wildlife Center
• The ARC of Crawford County
• Downtown Meadville YMCA
• Fairview/Fairmont Outreach Center
• Food Recovery Network
• St. James Haven
• Clean Slate Project
• Meadville Free Clinic
• Liberty House
• Meadville Dental Clinic

Each year, Bonners participate in a cornerstone activity with their cohort. Additionally, our students also participate in a yearly Fall retreat at the start of the Fall semester, typically at Pymatuning Lab of Ecology. Planned by our Bonner Leadership Team, this retreat is meant for community building, learning about Summers of Service and expectation setting for the year.

Activities

• First Year Trip to Erie, PA: A four-day immersive trip during the second half of Spring break to explore different issues within the northwestern Pennsylvania region that connects to the work that students are doing with their community partners in Meadville. We visit local non-profits, such as the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network, Urban Erie Community Development Corporation, USCRI Erie, etc., while also doing reflection and community building.
• Sophomore Exchange: A one-day trip to meet with other Bonner sophomores and explore local, national and international issues.
• Junior/Senior Capstone: Starting in the spring of their junior year, students start to explore ways to meet a community partner’s need through a capacity building project through a 2 credit course. This course and project is continued through and completed during the fall of their senior year. Projects are presented at the annual Student Spotlight Session at the Cook Lahti Scholars Symposium at the end of the spring semester.
• Senior Presentations of Learning: Seniors present a brief reflection at our annual Bonner and Beyond Banquet about their four years at the program.

Each Bonner at Allegheny is required to complete 2 Summer of Service Internships with a nonprofit organization of their choice. We fund $3,500 per student per summer, to help support these internships.

Internship Opportunities

• Meadville Public Library, Meadville, PA
• Summer Parks Program, Meadville, PA
• Clean Slate Project, Meadville, PA
• HOPE Meadville, Meadville, PA
• Center for Family Services Food Pantry, Meadville, PA
• Tamarack Wildlife Center, Saegertown, PA
• New York Edge, Woodside, NY
• Dover YMCA, Dover, DE
• American Conservation Experience, Flagstaff, AZ
• Akili Network, Nairobi, Kenya
• Adkins Arboretum, Ruthsburg, Maryland
• Haven of Hope, Guernsey, OH
• Carlisle YMCA, Carlisle, PA

You commit to bettering, being a part of and contributing to the Allegheny Bonner Community as a whole through weekly meetings, mentor/mentee program, social events and more.

Leadership Opportunities

• Apply for a position on the Bonner Leadership Team
• Become a student interviewer and recruiter on the Bonner Admissions and Recruitment Committee
• Become a Mentor for the Mentor/Mentee Program

Traditions

• Fall Retreat at Pymatuning
• Sweatshirts and Desserts: New Bonner Commissioning Ceremony where you receive your Bonner sweatshirt
• Bonner and Beyond: Annual ceremony of recognizing and celebrating the seniors
• Senior Sendoff: Bonfire and lawn games to conclude the year and say farewell to the seniors