Stevenson University senior Allison Harmon has been named a 2012 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities committed to service learning and preparing students to become engaged citizens who can work to develop creative solutions to society’s most pressing issues.

The award acknowledges student leaders across the nation poised to become the next generation of community problem solvers and civic leaders. 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.

“Newman Fellows serve as examples on their own campuses that students and higher education play vital roles in building a better world,” said Chris Noya, Stevenson’s Assistant Vice President for Experiential Learning and Career Services. “Allison, through her leadership and involvement in so many volunteer projects on and off campus, exemplifies the core values of service learning at Stevenson University.”

Harmon is a Public History major from Hampstead, Maryland, and a graduate of North Carroll High School. Her volunteerism and service extend across the campus and out into the greater community. In addition to serving as a tutor to fellow students and as a mentor to middle school students, Harmon has taken leadership positions on many service projects. She has served as a team leader, treasurer, and vice president of Service Corps, Stevenson University’s student volunteer service organization; she has traveled to New Orleans for several alternative spring break trips, helping to rebuild houses with Habitat for Humanity; and organized Stevenson’s first Relay for Life event in 2011, outreach for the Black Student Union, and many other large- and small-scale community service projects.

Newman Civic Fellows are recommended by college and university presidents to acknowledge motivation and ability in public leadership. The Fellows form a unique national network of leaders who will inspire and keep spirit of service alive for one another during college and afterward, as the network expands exponentially each year. To learn more about the Newman Civic Fellows, visit www.compact.org.