Civic Scholars Program
Civic Scholars Program
Full Impact Learning for Students Who Serve
Drew University actively supports students who show extraordinary commitment to community service by offering Civic Engagement Scholarships of $5,000 per year. Become a Drew Civic Scholar and you will not only receive a monetary award, but you will also join an exciting four-year Civic Engagement Program that will increase your service and leadership skills, while giving you significant real-world experience.
Drew Civic Scholars complete 100 hours or more of service annually and participate in special classes, workshops, and off-campus service projects. Drew’s Civic Scholars represent a wide range of academic majors and career interests.
Becoming a Drew Civic Scholar
For more information on the Drew Civic Engagement Scholarship:
Please email engage@drew.edu to be added to our email list to be informed of future opportunities
Scholar Program Year-by-Year
First Year: First years enroll in the “Community Service” College Seminar and participate in weekly Civic Engagement workshops focused on practical skill-building
Sophomore Year: Sophomores enroll in a 2-credit Civic internship with a non-profit or government agency and participate in skills and leadership development workshops
Junior Year: Juniors select leadership teams working on special events, alternative break trips, service projects, and other ways of increasing Drew’s impact in communities
Senior Year: Seniors complete and present a culminating civic project
All Civic Scholars enroll in for-credit Community-Based Learning (CBL) classes to connect their academic interests and majors with their off-campus service opportunities.
For more Information:
If you have any questions, contact Amy Sugerman, Assistant Director, Center for Civic Engagement:
asugerma@drew.edu or (973) 408-3069
Meet the Senior Civic Scholars
Brianne Flynn
What have you gained as a Civic Scholar?
I have learned a lot about how to determine what a community wants and needs, and this has helped me serve them better. A lot of volunteers make the mistake of making assumptions about what is the best way to help a community, but through my experiences I have learned that it is better to ask community members and community leaders what they need and base my time and efforts on that.
How do you plan to use what you’ve learned after you graduate?
I have acquired many skills through the Civic Scholar which I believe will be incredibly useful in the real world and helpful in getting a job. For example I have learned a lot about leadership, communication, planning, setting goals, and analyzing/measuring results.
Describe your Senior Civic Project
My Civic Scholar Project involves measuring air quality in Newark at locations identified by the Ironbound Community Center in order to help them collect data for their campaign for cleaner air and stricter diesel vehicle regulations.
Chris Deraney
What have you gained as a Civic Scholar?
I have been able to network with many community service and not for profit organizations, as well as a possible internship/job opportunity after graduation that I’m following up on. I have also learned a lot about organizing events and programs.
How do you plan to use what you’ve learned after you graduate?
I plan on using the connections I’ve made, along with the many lessons, to continue to use my abilities to serve my community and the world at large. I’ve thought a lot about where my life is heading, how I want to open up a martial arts school, and with what I’ve learned in researching and preparing for my senior project, I have decided that I’m going to have a free self defense program for children up to a certain age, in order to continue with my philosophy that martial arts is beneficial for youth development and education program in Morristown, New Jersey.
Describe your Senior Civic Project
In my senior project, I plan to introduce martial arts training and philosophy to children who live and go to school in Newark, New Jersey, via United Way and the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, and look for changes in behavior and work ethic.
Kara Pennino
What have you gained as a Civic Scholar?
I have been given multiple opportunities to deepen my understanding of my field of study and other interests that I have outside of my academics career. The Civic Scholar program has shown me gratifying ways that I can get involved with numerous communities. I look forward to graduating with a substantial list of connections and experiences, all of which I’m sure will assist me in bettering my future and myself as a person.
How do you plan to use what you’ve learned after you graduate?
The most rewarding part is the opportunity to be able to expand not only my own volunteer options, but also develop my networking skills. Meeting like-minded people as a freshman really helped broaden my goals and aspirations for being a Civic Scholar. During my sophomore year, I was an intern at Homeless Solutions, a local non-profit organization that supplies environmentally friendly and energy-efficient housing for less fortunate families in the community. This internship introduced me to valuable connections within my field of study. As a Civic Scholar, I have been given the opportunity and skills to make connections that I otherwise would not have the ability to make with such ease.
Describe your Senior Civic Project
My senior year project is entitled “Just Tap It”. The goal of this project to raise awareness of the negative effects the bottled water industry has on our health, economy, and environment. I received a grant from Investor Bank of Madison, NJ that I used to purchase reusable water bottles and host events on campus. These events included “I’d Tap It” heart stickers, the showing “Tapped” – a film about the bottled water industry, blind water tasting, and Got Tap? photo campaign. Reusable water bottles were handed out to students, staff, and faculty members who participated in “Just Tap It” events.
Nicole Kuruszko
What have you gained as a Civic Scholar?
The Civic Scholar program has inspired me to become highly involved in both the Drew and larger community. I have been able to transition into a strong and effective leader, because the program has provided me with unique access to apply my academic studies into a practical context. It was because of the program that I was able to conduct three internships and even co-author an article on community-based learning classes with my professor.
How do you plan to use what you’ve learned after you graduate?
I have gained a phenomenal skill set that I can apply to the “real world.” The Civic Scholar program has placed the world at my door, providing me with a strong sense of confidence in attending graduate school. The program taught me how to develop professional relationships and find ways in which I can incorporate my interests into the community.
Describe your Senior Civic Project
For my project, I brought the “Life in a Jar” play to Drew University. “Life in a Jar” is based on the life of Irena Sendler, who rescued 2,500 Jewish children during World War II. Bringing the original people who shared Irena’s story with the world was meant to teach students that they can help repair the world by making a difference in their own communities.
Senior Civic Scholar Projects
Life in a Jar Play
“Life in a Jar” is a play based on the life of Irena Sendler, who rescued 2,500 Jewish children during World War II. Drew Civic Scholar, Nicole Kuruszko, brought Norman Conard and the Kansas students who brought Irena’s story world-wide recognition to perform their play at Drew University. Without the “Life in a Jar” play, this special piece of history would be lost forever. With 200 people in attendance, the performance honored Irena Sendler’s heroism and offered an opportunity for teachers to incorporate related classroom materials into their schools. The Senior Civic Project brought awareness to the difference that one person can make in his or her community and ultimately end up changing the world in the process.
Just “TAP IT” Campaign
The “Just TAP IT” Campaign raised awareness of the negative effects of the bottled water industry on our health, economy, and environment. Drew Civic Scholar, Kara Pennino, started the campaign in an effort to encourage the campus to use reusable water bottles. The program included a special film screening of the documentary “Tapped”, which highlighted the many environmental issues related to the bottled water industry such as ocean pollution. This Senior Civic Project also featured blind-water tasting, “I’d Tap It” heart stickers, and “Got Tap?” photo campaign. Reusable water bottles were handed out to students, staff, and faculty members who participated in the events.
Bolden Collaboration
Drew Civic Scholar, Charlotte Drover, taught the Bolden Collaboration course at Drew University. Her students mentored and collaborated with public high school students from Newark’s Marion Bolden Center, an after-school activities center which also offers programs in film, dance, and singing. Using applied theatre techniques such as devised play-making bilingual poetry, and story telling through movement, the Bolden students exercised various means of creative expression in performing the issues of their lives. These techniques enhanced their ability to perform, speak publicly, and commit to a communal project. Charlotte’s conclusive report will serve as supplemental material to help with funding and evaluate how the presence of an arts’ program is vital to both Drew and the Bolden Center.
Martial Arts Training
Drew Civic Scholar, Chris Deraney, introduced martial arts training and philosophy to children who live and go to school in Newark, New Jersey. Chris completed his Senior Civic Project through his involvement in United Way and the Boys and Girls Club of Newark. The purpose of the project was to help children improve their behavior. To access his project’s impact, Chris has traced patterns of behavioral changes in the children. For Chris, martial arts is a way of teaching young people about discipline and a strong work ethic. The martial arts program not only serves a healthy outlet for students, who may be going through a difficult time in their lives, but also teaches children what to do to avoid conflict.
Air Quality Testing
Drew Civic Scholar, Brianne Flynn, has combined her passions for environmental science and civic engagement through her Senior Civic Project. Bri’s project involves measuring the air quality in Newark at locations identified by the Ironbound Community Center. In testing the air quality, Bri will help the Ironbound Community by collecting data for their campaign for cleaner air and stricter diesel vehicle regulations. With countless hours spent working in the laboratory, Bri has also based her Honor’s Thesis on her air quality research. Not only will Bri’s project help the Ironbound Community, but it will also serve as a way of thinking about the health consequences of poor air quality.