Jacob Koles '25
- Major: Legal studies
- From: Penfield High School, New York
How community service opened doors
Jacob Koles was drawn to Nazareth University’s Bonner Leader program as a way to take action on issues that matter to him and to continue community involvement like he’d done throughout high school.
Working with Leadership Rochester his first year at Naz provided experience and connections for Jacob Koles, including at a conference for mid-career professionals, where he talked with Camille Simmons, Leadership Rochester executive director and Rochester City School District school board president.
As he completed his legal studies bachelor’s degree in December 2025, he reflected on his experiences and how they’ve shaped his path.
Why community engagement?
“I do it because I can,” he said. “I see the opportunity and go after it. I enjoy it. It’s not super hard to find something. There’s a billion nonprofits. They all work with each other.”
Starting young
He’s done a variety of things. While on Penfield High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition team, he volunteered at science, technology, engineering, and mathematics events in the community.
In 10th grade, for a FIRST robotics innovation challenge during the COVID pandemic, he did a project that promoted inclusivity through play. For his 16th birthday, he raised money for a food cupboard program and a special education cooperative district school.
He organized an international potluck for a robotics team from Taiwan. He served as a junior board member for the Pirate Toy Fund. “I also helped advocate for others to have opportunities, such as more STEM education in low-income schools and funds to start robotics teams. I went to the state capital twice to talk to state representatives, which developed my public speaking skills. I’ve been to the National Advocacy Conference twice and spoke with federal representatives. I also helped an 8th-grader learn how to speak to representatives in his state.”
Koles believes there are many ways to have an impact. “Some people think you have to cure world hunger. But you can make a difference whether it’s affecting one person or 100.”
Why Naz?
“Ultimately I was attracted to Nazareth’s Bonner program,” says Koles.
Nazareth’s Bonner Leaders receive a community engagement scholarship, training, and mentoring to help them create a more just, healthy, and equitable future. “It’s a really good program,” says Koles.
His first year of college included a role with Leadership Rochester, part of his Bonner commitment and a partnership that was customized to his interests. He supported work such as helping mid-career adults learn to be better leaders and enabling young adults to connect with others. His role included scheduling, coordinating, setting up, and sending email communications.
Through that work, he met and networked with leaders at the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, and he secured an internship there with a legal assistant in the education unit — just what he wanted. That unit helps individuals from birth to 21 in issues involving educational rights. Jacob had wanted to work with Legal Aid since his first year in college, knowing it would advance his career goals.
“I want to do education law specifically,” said Koles.
Jacob Koles’ work with Leadership Rochester included supporting conferences where he met a variety of professionals, including Elissa Burke, chief programs officer at Starbridge.
Highlights of college?
- “The professors here all want you to succeed and help you every step of the way.”
- The Bonner program and Nazareth’s small size both supported customizing his program and projects to match his interests, such as his capstone project that used nonpartisan communication about issues to try to increase voter turnout. He appreciated that a lot of faculty attended his presentation on his project at Nazareth’s annual college-wide Creative Activity and Research Showcase (CARS) student symposium.
- Adam Lewandowski, director of the Bonner program, connected him with Leadership Rochester, where he connected with Legal Aid Society leaders.
- Working with Legal Aid “has been a really good experience.” He hopes to continue there as he prepares for law school.
- He went to the Bonner Summer Leadership Institute in Oberlin, Ohio, and to the Bonner Congress at Loyola University Chicago, networking with Bonner students from other universities.
What’s next?
Koles is applying to law schools. He is volunteering with Leadership Rochester through June, when the current leadership class graduates. He’s also volunteering as a mentor for the robotics team at his high school, teaching skills to help them be successful such as public speaking, community engagement and professional writing.
Advice for other students?
“My advice: If you plan to go to college and you can afford to be there for four years, do it.” He had enough credits from high school, including from AP exams, that he graduated from college early. He appreciates the lower cost but also said long days of courses, internships, and a job left him little time to attend campus events or pursue opportunities such as study abroad.