Bonner Service Leader Program

As a Bonner at Allegheny, you will gain the skills, knowledge, and experience through community-based placements at local non-profits in Meadville to lead, make a difference, and grow as an individual.

Bonners are changemakers who are dedicated to personal growth and social justice, committed to working alongside the Meadville community, and enthusiastic to cultivate community on and off campus.

Allegheny is one of only 3 selected to offer both the Bonner Scholar and Bonner Leader Program.

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About the Allegheny Bonner Program

Since 1998, Allegheny College has been part of 76 colleges and universities in the Bonner Network that offer the Bonner Program. Allegheny, however, is 1 of 3 schools that offer the hybrid Bonner Leader and Bonner Scholar program.

Students are matched with one of our over 21 community partners in the Crawford County area, where they utilize their work study or campus employment funds to serve, whether it’s through direct service or capacity building. Our students also receive professional development and leadership training, as well as participate in important cornerstone activities that help them understand the contexts of the communities that they serve.

Currently, there are about 50 students in the Allegheny Bonner Program. Each year, a class of 16 students, 8 Bonner Leaders and 8 Bonner Scholars, are recruited for a class of 16 students from admitted Allegheny students.

If you are a current student looking to join the Bonner Program, contact Sarah Young, Bonner Program Coordinator at syoung2@allegheny.edu for more information.

Four-Year Journey

Orientation

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.

Internships and Community Placements

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

Cornerstones

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.

Summers of Service

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

Other Benefits of the Program

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

Financial Benefits

Allegheny College is 1 of 3 schools in the Bonner Network to offer both the Bonner Leader and the Bonner Scholar program.

Bonner Funding	Bonner Leader	Bonner Scholar
Scholarship	N/A	Yes, a combination of grants, scholarships and loans to meet total documented need based on the FAFSA.
Work Study/Campus Employment	Yes	Yes
Summer of Service Stipends	Yes, $3,500 per summer, for 2 Summers.	Yes, $3,500, per summer, for 2 Summers.
Rising Senior Fund	As available for post grad needs starting at the end of their junior year.	Yes, $500 for post grad needs starting at the end of their junior year.
Community Fund	Yes, $500 per student for student initiated community based projects meeting a community need.	Yes, $500 per student for student initiated community based projects meeting a community need.

Both domestic and international students are eligible to apply to the Bonner Program, however, only students who fill out the FAFSA will be eligible for the Bonner Scholar positions.

Other Financial Benefits

Bonner Grad School Partnerships: When you graduate as a Bonner, you’ll have access to a growing network of graduate school partnerships, often offering scholarships, application fee waivers or special programs because you were a Bonner. Learn more about Bonner Foundation Grad School Partnerships.

Student Stories

I joined the Bonner Program because I am genuinely passionate about service!

Amberlyn Escobar ’27 View Amberlyn’s Story

Bonner creates everlasting bonds that go past graduation.

Inayah Toussaint ’25 View Inayah’s Story

Bonner has taught me a lot about community engagement and being involved in the place I live.

Rion McCluskey ’26 View Rion’s Story

Join a community of like minded students wanting to make an impact here at Allegheny.

Silas Alemayehu ’28 View Silas’s Story

Being connected to the community, and forming the relationships I have today, are aspects of my life that I will carry with me throughout my college career and life.

Leslie Guadalupe Briseño ’25 View Leslie’s Story

I joined the Bonner Program because I have directly experienced the positive impacts of dedicated service and I want to pay that forward.

Samikchhya Pokhrel ’27 View Samikchhya’s Story

Bonner is an experience that pushes you to confront yourself in unexpected ways.

Kirandeep Khroud ’27 View Kirandeep’s Story

View All Stories

Featured News

June 6, 2024

Bonner Students Make An Impact For Over 25 Years At Allegheny College

Since 1998, the Allegheny College Bonner Program has cultivated the next generation of leaders. Bonner students are changemakers dedicated to social justice, diversity, and civic engagement. Over 75+ Bonner Programs exist in the country. However, Allegheny College is distinguished as one of three institutions with a hybrid model comprising half of Bonner Leaders and Scholars, […]

May 20, 2020