Sophomore Jennifer Wess Earns 2016 Newman Civic Fellow Award
Nazareth College is pleased to announce that Jennifer Wess is the recipient of the national 2016 Newman Civic Fellow Award. The Newman award, presented by Campus Compact, is given to college student leaders who represent the next generation of civic leaders through service, research, and advocacy. Wess is among 218 students honored, representing Campus Compact member institutions from 36 states; Washington, D.C.; and Mexico.
Wess, a sophomore at Nazareth College, is a student leader active in the College's Partners for Serving program, an innovative co-curricular service program that focuses on poverty reduction, education, and community empowerment by building partnerships with schools, education centers, and human service organizations. She is a valued contributor to Rochester's efforts to reduce the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, in particular the youngest of our community who are living in extreme poverty. For the past two years, she has worked closely with after school programs and transitional homes such as Sojourner House and Community Place to promote education and a positive mental health for youth.
Nazareth College President Daan Braveman has high praise for Wess. “Jenny is committed to social change and to looking at the root causes of poverty,” Braveman said. “In addition to her work with youth in area homeless and transition homes, Jenny is also committed to creating and participating in dialogue with other youth around issues of race, power, and privilege. She is a passionate, dedicated woman who is committed to working toward positive change in our local and global communities. I am confident that Jenny will continue to make a positive impact in Rochester and beyond.”
The Newman Civic Fellows Award is named for Dr. Frank Newman, one of the founders of Campus Compact, who dedicated his life to creating opportunities for student civic learning and engagement. Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents—representing some 6 million students—who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. The Newman Civic Fellows Award is generously sponsored by the KPMG Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation.
For More Information
Julie Long, Nazareth Chief Public Relations Officer: (585) 389-2456; jlong2@naz.edu
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
