Bonner Scholarship

TRANSFORMING STUDENTS, COMMUNITIES AND CAMPUSES THROUGH SERVICE

If you’re passionate about bringing positive community change through service and action — while working with a diverse team of students — consider the Bonner Scholars Program. Join a group of engaged undergraduates who use their talents and skills in a four-year scholarship program that challenges and supports them in community and leadership development.

As a Bonner Scholar, you’ll partner with a community organization like the Boys and Girls Club, Davies Homeless Shelters, North Broad Youth Center, Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia, as well as public schools, non-profit hospitals and environmental organizations. This intensive partnership will provide opportunities to focus on:

Civic engagement
Diversity
Community building
International perspective
Social justice
Spiritual exploration

How does your participation add value to a Berry College education?

You’ll benefit from the program while living on campus, preparing for your career or graduate school and pursuing personal and professional goals after graduation because of:

Several elements of the Bonner Program contribute strongly to its effectiveness including the cohort experience, dialogue across difference, diversity within the program and campus context, structured reflection, related education, and mentoring (by peers, staff, faculty, and community partners).
Being in the Bonner Program positively impacts students’ academic experiences and success. Students seek courses that improve their understanding of community issues and can improve their effectiveness in applying learning to real-world issues.
Between the first and senior year, being in the Bonner Program has statistically significant positive impact on key educational outcomes for students, including their campus belonging and community connectedness, civic engagement, political engagement, identity development around issues of diversity, democratic values, and thriving.
Civic engagement experiences, including leadership and project roles that students take with community partners, are positively correlated with their learning.

Are you eligible?

The Bonner Scholars Program is a competitive program that provides scholarship funds in addition to your standard merit and need-based award. To be eligible, you must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than $15,000, based on the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be considered for the program, students must have a track record of:

Significant service to their communities, faith groups and/or families
Demonstrated ability to balance academic performance with meaningful service

What is the commitment Asked of You?

140 hours of community work each semester (averaging 10 hours per week)
Attendance at weekly Bonner Scholars Program meetings and educational programs
Participation in orientations, retreats and service trips
280 community-based internship hours with a local, state, national or international organization for two summers

"This close-knit community [Berry College and Rome, Georgia] has taught me that volunteering is an ongoing experience that doesn't stop when you leave that place. Here in Rome, I can see exactly how the Rome community benefits from the work I do. It's made me recognize the active change that I'm bringing every time I come into my service site."

-Ross Bryant (21C)
Major: Environmental Studies
Work sites: Keep Rome/Floyd Beautiful

HOW DO I APPLY?

Contact Us

Laurie H. Chandler
Director
lchandler@berry.edu
706.238.7885

For questions about your application to Berry or the scholarship program application, contact your admission counselor or admissions@berry.edu.

To learn about the national program, visit The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation.