Bonner Scholars: 15 years of putting service in the hearts and minds of students, faculty and staff

The announcement of Maryville College’s selection as a Bonner Scholar school ran fairly prominently in the fall 1991 issue of FOCUS. Under the headline “Bonner Scholars Work and Learn,” the news story explained how 29 incoming freshmen had been selected to each receive $3,000 grants from the Princeton, N.J.-based Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation “for student activities geared towards a one-to-one interaction with youth in the community.”

A photo of 25 of the 29 first Bonner Scholars and the Rev. Stephen Nickle, then the new chaplain and director of volunteer services, ran with the story. Dressed casually and posing on the steps of Thaw Hall, the students probably didn’t realize at the time that they were history-makers of sorts and that the program for which they had signed on would, in large measure, change the culture of the Maryville College campus.

Over the last 15 years, the scope, requirements and benefits of the Bonner Scholars Program have expanded, but Nickle’s 1991 explanation of the endeavor rings as true today as it did 15 years ago:  “The program is … structured to get others on the campus involved in community service. The Bonner Scholars will be looked upon as ‘yeast’ for programs involving the whole college and the community.”

As Maryville College observes its 15-year affiliation with the Bonner Foundation and celebrates the announcement of a $4.5 million grant to endow the program, the campus considers how Bonners have put community service front and center in the hearts and minds of students, faculty and staff.