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Newman Civic Fellowship Applications Open Now for Wright Students

By: Alexandra Brown


The Newman Civic Fellowship 2025-2026 cycle is open now to Wilbur Wright College Students, the application is due Apr. 11.


The Newman Civic Fellowship helps student leaders to solve public problems and uplift their communities. It is a year-long program designed to aid students in their mission for social change through grant opportunities, connection to a nationwide community of other fellows, and live events to hone their skills.


Student applicants are required at least one full academic year remaining by the time of nomination, Aug. 2025, so that they can be active for the full duration of their fellowship (September 2025 - May 2026).


Applicants must fill out a short form and answer within 500 words the question: "How would you use the Newman Fellowship to improve your college or community, and help create social change?"


The Newman Civic Fellowship Online Application. Photo Credits: Alexandra Brown


All applicants are offered an interview by Associate Dean of  Instruction Gabe Estill, or Professor Merry Mayer. One applicant will subsequently be nominated by Wright College President, Andres Oroz, and then their time as a Newman Civic Fellow will ensue.


Current Wright College Newman Civic Fellow, Tammy Spivey, says, “It's very enlightening. It offers a lot of things to not only improve myself, but things around me. It offers outreach and networking opportunities.”


Spivey, a double major in Political Science and Psychology, uses the resources and opportunities offered by Campus Compact (the coalition of colleges affiliated with the Newman Civic Fellowship) to impact her community during the most recent election cycle. 


“I was given a special opportunity to be introduced into the Newman Fellowship at a time of extreme political polarization… it has allowed me to navigate and moderate a lot of complicated or hard conversations with people,” Spivey said. 


Spivey led a campaign for voter registration on Wright’s campus, successfully obtaining the highest number of students to register out of all CCC schools.


Newman Civic Fellows can choose any area of social change to explore. Professor and Faculty Advisor Merry Mayer says, “There's a lot that you can choose from. You could focus on immigrant rights, abortion rights, environmental issues, or whatever people wanted to focus on.”


Newman Civic Fellows will have “check-ins” with mentors to receive support locally, and can attend nationwide events for professional learning and skill development. 


Students are strongly encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Mayer advises applicants to: “Just show that you're passionate…talk about your passions, what you care about, what you would like to do.” 


Engagement from past fellows has strengthened Wright’s community by giving students a voice, and a place to use their passions as a charge for social change and leadership.


To learn more about the Civic Newman Fellowship by visiting their website: https://compact.org/current-programs/student-programming/newman-civic-fellowship





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