Bonner Community Leaders

Financial Support & Additional Benefits

• Payment through Federal Work-Study funding, up to $4,500 per academic year, as determined by the student's financial aid package
• Local transportation passes and coverage of possible service-related costs 

Totaling up to $18,000 over a four-year undergraduate career!

Professional Development

• Opportunity for participation in national conferences
• Engagement with a community of peers who are passionate about service and social justice
• Mentoring from staff, faculty, and Bonner mentors
• Opportunity to serve in the local and regional community through service site placements

Networking Opportunities

• Membership in a nationally recognized program
• Alumnae/i network after graduation
• Develop strong professional communication skills

Personal Skills and Growth

• Build time management skills and balance multiple priorities.
• Gain an understanding of community and community partner needs.
• Learn the root causes of social issues and the role of community service and service-learning in collaboratively creating solutions.
• Become more fully human and conscientious as an active, contributing member of society.

Program Expectations

Bonner Community Leaders are expected to

• Join a dedicated team of leaders in community service and social justice by being matched with a community-based organization for a multi-year partnership based on community needs
• Complete 280 hours of combined service, training, meetings, and classes per year during the four-year engagement
• Attend regularly scheduled, required Bonner meetings
• Participate in pre-service orientation
• Participate in a first-year service trip and a second-year service exchange
• Complete one summer internship of at least 280 hours with a local, state, national, or international nonprofit or government agency
• Make a final presentation of learning
• Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA
• Embrace the Bonner Common Commitments

Common Commitments

Bonner is founded on these common commitments:

• Diversity – We respect and embrace the many dimensions of diversity in our private and public lives.
• Social Justice – We advocate for fairness, impartiality, and equality while addressing systemic social and environmental issues.
• International Perspective – We develop international understanding that enables us to participate successfully in a global society.
• Spiritual Exploration – We explore personal belief while respecting the spiritual practices of others.
• Civic Engagement – We participate intentionally as a citizen in the democratic process, actively engaging in public policy and direct service.
• Community Building – We establish and sustain a vibrant community of place, personal relationships, and common interests.
• Wellness – We value balance in our lives, prioritizing our academic, civic, and personal responsibilities, and modeling productive behaviors in the settings in which we serve and learn.

Bonner has key Cornerstone Activities: These activities are designed to be hallmarks and help to foster Bonner Leader development.

• First-Year Bonner Orientation (required) – This is a Bonner student's first experience with the program, providing a sense of community and basic knowledge to begin their work.
• Bonner First-Year Trip – These experiences take place during the first week of summer after a Bonner's first year. While these travel trips may revolve around service, activities generally include meetings with community residents, agency representatives, and others who provide educational context about the community.
• Bonner Congress – This is a leadership opportunity to represent Simmons' Bonner program at the national level and connect with other Bonner Leaders across the US.
• Junior/Senior Leadership – Multiple opportunities exist for Bonner Leaders, especially 3rd and 4th year students, to take initiative through different leadership roles. These include supporting or facilitating cornerstone activities linked to academics, campus events, international service trips, and/or Bonner Intern positions.
• Senior Capstone and Senior Presentation of Learning (required) – The Senior Capstone is a culminating educational activity where students integrate and apply their learning to a significant project with meaning to the student and to society. The Senior Presentation of Learning allows Bonners to reflect on their experiences, articulate personal transformations, and envision their place in the world after graduation.

This program is designed to challenge and support students throughout their four years through an experiential learning model.

Starting their first year at Simmons, Bonner Leaders are oriented and immersed in exploring personal and interpersonal identity, the local and at-large community, and the program's structure and expectations.

Through a combination of training, reflection, and community engagement activities, students will evaluate the relationship between identity and place, and learn how to identify social problems and address questions within society. Each year the program builds upon itself, allowing students to lead, take more responsibility, and think more critically about their community experiences.

Bonner Community Partners

The program partners with nonprofit and community-based organizations in multiple issue areas, including education, the environment, hunger and homelessness, healthcare, youth with disabilities, and many more. Partners serve as co-educators in student development and community engagement.

Why should you become a Bonner Community Leaders Partner?

Through this multi-year partnership, you gain access to dedicated students committed to service, leadership, and community involvement. Each year, Simmons accepts new students, offering long-standing partnership and ongoing support.

Community Partner Guidelines:

• Execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Simmons University.
• Select a staff member to act as an on-site supervisor to provide regular check-ins and act as a co-educator and facilitator of an effective relationship between your organization and the Bonner Leader.
• Set clear guidelines for projects and responsibilities. Collaborate with the Bonner Leader to create a Community Learning Agreement and developmental plan.

Interested in partnering with Bonner Community Leader? Contact [email protected]