*Brianna Frederick, pictured at the far right, at a Produce to People event in Washington, Pa.
WASHINGTON, PA (June 1, 2015) — Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) student Brianna Frederick ’16 is the recipient of the 2015 Newman Civic Fellows Award presented by Campus Compact.
Chosen for her passion about community engagement and public service, Frederick is one of just 201 students nationwide to receive the award.
“Brianna steps up and gets the job done,” said Justin Dandoy, Director of Community Engagement at W&J, who has worked with Frederick on several projects and commends her efforts throughout the community. “She has shown us she is a leader in a very short amount of time.”
Newman Civic Fellows, named for education and community leadership advocate Frank Newman, are recommended by college and university presidents to acknowledge dedication to public service and leadership. The awards are given by Campus Compact, a national coalition of nearly 1,100 colleges and universities committed to promoting campus-based civic engagement, with support from the KPMG Foundation.
Frederick, an accounting major and communication arts minor on a pre-law track, is involved in numerous charitable, community and support programs both on and off campus. She became a Volunteer Community Health Coach in September 2014, an internship position she continues to hold. Students in this program are trained to make follow-up visits to patients who recently returned home from hospital stays, helping them maintain their personal health plans with the goal of avoiding readmission to hospitals for preventable issues.
She also is focused on her work as a Poverty & Homelessness Team Leader for Washington County Habitat for Humanity, and she founded a collegiate chapter of Habitat for Humanity on the W&J campus, which has grown to 40 active student members.
While Frederick gives most of her time to community projects, she said she is the one who gets the most out of volunteering.
“I think it helps you grow, as a person,” Frederick said. “It is a really rewarding feeling that you can watch yourself grow up and mature by learning life lessons, through helping others.”
Frederick said volunteering has many benefits, and that with plentiful local opportunities to get involved, she hopes others will take advantage of a chance to help their communities.
“[Through volunteering] more people can realize how volunteering can impact you as a person, can help the community to give back,” Frederick said. “You will find a very rewarding feeling in helping others.”
About the Newman Civic Fellows Award
The Newman Civic Fellows Award honors inspiring college student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Through service, research, and advocacy, Newman Civic Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change. These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can – and does – play in building a better world. The Newman Civic Fellows Awards are made possible through the generous support of the KPMG Foundation.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work.
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