Two dynamic student civic leaders from Buffalo State College were selected as Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows, students who demonstrate an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Through the one-year fellowship, Campus Compact provides learning opportunities focusing on the skills fellows need in order to serve as effective agents of change in addressing public problems and building equitable communities.
Buffalo State’s 2018-2019 Newman Civic Fellow is Xylina Ulloa, a senior Dietetics major who has volunteered with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Meals on Wheels, North Buffalo Farmers Market, Habitat for Humanity, and Ronald McDonald House. She also led an alternative break trip to Detroit, Michigan focusing on food justice, and is leading an Alternative Break trip to Puerto Rico in January 2019. Through her leadership, $3,600 was also raised for much needed medical equipment to support Haiti Outreach Pwoje Espwa (H.O.P.E.), a grass roots community development organization in Borgne, Haiti.
Buffalo State’s 2017-2018 Newman Civic Fellow was also a dynamic civic leader. Ada Garcia-Poll, ’18 reflected on her participation in the Fellowship conference:
“I’ve experienced an astonishing opportunity by representing SUNY Buffalo State College as a Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow, it made me realize that there are people out there who have the same intentions as me and are willing to do whatever it takes to make a change in their own communities. The year-long Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students by enhancing skills students need in order to serve as effective agents of chance in addressing public problems and building equitable communities.
Before I traveled down to Boston for an annual conference to meet the rest of the 250 student Newman Civic Fellows, I did not know what to expect, only that I would have to walk into a room full of students from different schools across the country. Our first activity was an ice breaker. Unfortunately, it was impossible to exchange words with every single one of the fellows, however throughout the conference I got to meet amazing individuals who shared the same ideas as me.
We split up into groups to attend different workshops where we discussed the importance of the senate and the process it takes to vote for a bill. My favorite part was being able to play the role of a senator and learning how to vote with the tablet that was given to us with our own simulated political party and state. Furthermore, we observed a panel where public service leaders from the Boston area spoke about their experiences and how they take part in their community. They also gave us advice on how to remain involved in our own communities as student leaders.
Before we said our goodbyes, The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum was holding an event where speakers from all over the world came in to share information about different volunteer programs, conduct presentations on a variety of social issues, and share personal stories about President Kennedy if they had met him during his presidency. I am thankful for interacting with so many students that share the same mindset as me and hearing the amazing work they are doing on their campuses. I believe this was an amazing opportunity for me to stay involved on campus and share my experiences with other students to encourage them to take action on their own communities, whether it is on campus or even their hometowns. It also gave me the motivation to keep up with politics and do more research to educate myself on social issues that are happening in my community.”
These fellowships provide great opportunities for students to expand their networks and find ways to make changes that improve communities across New York State.
30 Days of Giving 2018
- Day 1: Buffalo State’s Students Serve as Civic Leaders
- Day 2: Farmingdale State College Students Give Veterans a Smile
- Day 3: Tompkins Cortland Community College Brings the Farm to the Table
- Day 4: SUNY Maritime Donates Backpacks to Homes For the Brave
- Day 5: Paws and Effect at Binghamton University
- Day 6: New Paltz Students Go From Interns To Emerging Leaders
- Day 7: Niagara County Community College Students Feed Animals in Need
- Day 8: Mohawk Valley Community College Baseball Team Helps Area Veterans
- Day 9: SUNY Delhi Students Build Homes for the Homeless
- Day 10: SUNY Old Westbury Commemorates Veterans
- Day 11: UAlbany Students Work to Improve Lives of Those With Disabilities
- Day 12: Alfred State Students Preserve History in California
- Day 13: Herkimer County Community College Cares For the Community
- Day 14: SUNY Broome Students Stepping Up to End Campus Hunger
- Day 15: Monroe Community College Develops Humanitarian Mapping
- Day 16: SUNY Oswego Hockey Teams Support Local Charities
- Day 17: Stony Brook University Students Practice Prevention and Outreach
- Day 18: SUNY ESF Students Give Up Their Saturdays for Service
- Day 19: Clinton Community College Helps Students Overcome Barriers to Success
- Day 20: SUNY Plattsburgh Grants Holiday Wishes to Area Children and Families
- Day 21: SUNY Cobleskill Gives Back to the Iroquois Indian Museum
- Day 22: SUNY Sullivan Helps Local Federation for the Homeless
- Day 23: Operation Shoebox at Schenectady County Community College
- Day 24: University at Buffalo Grassroots Gardens
- Day 25: SUNY Oneonta Runs to Fight Hunger
- Day 26: SUNY Orange Helps the Needy Stay Warm in Winter
- Day 27: HVCC Students Pack Good Night Bags for Families in Crisis
- Day 28: SUNY Fredonia Adopts Families in Need
- Day 29: Onondaga Community College Students Give Back With Service Abroad
- Day 30: Jefferson Community College Faculty & Staff Take Pie in the Face for Charity
Congratulations to Buffalo State College students. They’re really good.