Juniata Student from Rwanda Wins Newman Civic Fellowship
(Posted March 26, 2018)
Photo: Ichiro Narita '18
Photo: Ichiro Narita '18
Huntingdon, Pa.— Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 268 students who will make up the organization’s 2018 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows, including Juniata College student Liliane Umuhoza.
Liliane, a junior from Rwanda, will use her fellowship to further her work in raising awareness of genocide throughout the world. During her first year at Juniata, she was the first runner-up in the Bailey Oratorical contest, where she spoke about her experience as a survivor of genocide. Since that time, she has been invited to speak at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, as well as in Israel and England. Last summer, Liliane organized and ran a retreat for female survivors of genocide, something she hopes to make an annual event.
“I want to invest in people,” Liliane says. “Without all the people who invested in me, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I feel like if I can give this support to other people, they can be the change. They can be the change we want to see in the world.”
“Liliane’s work shows us that sharing our stories can have a positive impact on the world,” says Juniata President James A. Troha. “Everyone here at Juniata is proud of her courage and conviction. We need more individuals like Liliane.”
The Newman Civic Fellowship, named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, is a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional and civic growth. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The fellowship also provides fellows with access to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.
“Liliane’s work shows us that sharing our stories can have a positive impact on the world,” says Juniata President James A. Troha.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate and engage with such an extraordinary group of students,” says Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. “The stories of this year's Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are bringing people together in their communities to solve pressing problems. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it's what our country and our world desperately need.”
Campus Compact is a nonprofit coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. As the only national association dedicated to this mission, Campus Compact is a leader in building community engagement into campus and academic life.
--Written by Nathan Woods ’19--
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.