Grantville junior named Newman Civic Fellow for 2018

LAWRENCE — From across the country, college and university presidents of Campus Compact member institutions have nominated promising student leaders as Newman Civic Fellows. Through service, research and advocacy, these fellows have demonstrated an investment in their community and are working to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

Alix Fisk, a University of Kansas junior from Grantville studying applied behavioral science, has dedicated her college career to empowering people at all stages of their lives through community organizing, education and research.

“It’s clear from Alix’s volunteer work and research that she believes strongly in addressing and raising awareness of social issues,” said Amanda Schwegler, assistant director of the Center for Service Learning.

Fisk demonstrates this through her collaborative service work with residents and organizations in neighborhoods experiencing crime, poverty, and marginalization.

As a Newman Civic Fellow, Alix will join a network of fellows around the country. Together — sharing ideas and tools through online networking — the fellows will leverage an even greater capacity for service and change, and they will continue to set examples for their classmate and others.

“She energizes her peers and helps them understand that they can also make positive social change through service and their experiences at the University of Kansas,” said KU Chancellor Douglas A. Girod.

According to Schwegler, Fisk was nominated as KU’s Newman Civic Fellow because her efforts notably represent the values of this leadership honor. Newman Civic Fellowships are conferred to recognize and support community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. 

The opportunities available to the Newman Civic Fellows include attendance at the national Newman Civic Fellows conference, participation in regional and state gatherings of Newman Civic Fellows, engagement with a virtual event series focused on skill development and professional learning, and guidance from a local mentor.

Campus Compact advances the public purpose of over 1,000 colleges and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. For more information, please visit www.compact.org.