Rutgers Newark Student Named ‘2018 Newman Civic Fellow’

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Rutgers University-Newark. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

Rutgers University—Newark Junior Ashley Vasquez has been named as a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education. She joins this year’s cohort of 268 students from colleges and universities around the country. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year fellowship for community-committed college students from Campus Compact member institutions.

“As the daughter of immigrants, I am passionate about immigrant rights,” Vasquez stated. “I am blessed to have been born in a country that gives me the freedom to use my voice for those who believe they do not have one. I have always been surrounded by individuals who are undocumented and have seen their struggles first hand. Ever since I was a young girl, I have tried to help those in need in simple ways such as translating for them. As I got older, I realized how powerful my voice was.”

The fellowship honors the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders and a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors are annually invited to nominate one community-committed student from their institution for the fellowship. These nominees are individuals who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country and abroad.

Rutgers—Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor highlighted ways in which Vasquez has been, and continues to be, a powerful agent for social change on campus and in the community. “During the past two years, Ashley has effectively implemented initiatives aimed at addressing social inequities experienced by historically underrepresented and marginalized communities,” according to Cantor. She also points to Vasquez having co-founded "Students with a Greater Goal" (SWAGG), through which Vasquez successfully engaged her peers in service learning by providing them with opportunities to volunteer in the local community, as well as to Vasquez’ involvement with RU Dreamers, a student organization aimed at empowering undocumented students at Rutgers-Newark. “Ashley has served as a community ally and inspired her peers to take action by sharing her personal narrative of being a first-generation college student and child of immigrants,” said Cantor.

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 pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities. “The stories of this year’s Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are bringing people together in their communities to solve pressing problems,” according to Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “That is what Campus Compact is about, and it’s what our country and our world desperately need.”

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Rutgers University-Newark