Sophomore Named Newman Civic Fellow for Service

Jacob Hull has been recognized as a Newman Civic Fellow for his dedication to service and his leadership on campus. Through this fellowship he will continue to enhance his personal, professional, and civic growth.

A Buena Vista University sophomore has been named a 2020 Newman Civic Fellow by the organization recognizing 290 students across the U.S. and internationally for their service to community.

Jacob Hull, a computer science major from Alta, was introduced to service, in part, via BVU’s Alternative Week of Offsite Learning (AWOL) last March on Catalina Island off the coast of California.

“We did wildlife preservation and restoration work in a week on the island,” Hull says. “We built relationships with other students and had a great community partner.”

The experience intensified Hull’s interest in service. He became an AmeriCorps member at BVU, was elected vice president of AWOL, became a board member for BVU’s Student MOVE organization, and began service efforts at The Bridge in Storm Lake, at animal shelters in nearby Newell and Spencer, and helped conduct in-house fundraisers for nonprofit organizations.

“Jacob is an incredibly talented individual who is always focused on creating programs that serve community needs.”

Dr. Ashley Farmer-Hanson, Assistant Vice President of Student Success and Director of Community Engagement

“Jacob is a servant leader by definition and is always developing ways to ensure his peers have multiple opportunities to serve a variety of needs on a local and international level,” says BVU President Joshua Merchant. “Jacob’s dedication to service and in providing opportunities to his peers is incredible.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program for students from Campus Compact member institutions. Students selected for the fellowship are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions for challenges communities face locally, nationally, and across the world. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides students with a variety of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth.

Jacob Hull, BVU sophomore and Newman Civic Fellow

Each year, Newman Civic Fellows are invited to a national conference and participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities.

“Jacob is an incredibly talented individual who is always focused on creating programs that serve community needs,” says Dr. Ashley Farmer-Hanson, Assistant Vice President of Student Success and Director of Community Engagement. “This past year he worked tirelessly on AWOL efforts and creating that leadership program for his peers. Despite trips not being able to travel this year, he is already making plans to advocate for the people we were supposed to serve and to find ways for us to go to those locations next year. He is very deserving of this honor.”

“I wasn’t much into community service before coming to BVU,” Hull says. “That first AWOL trip made a big difference for me. I try to advocate for things I believe in while striving to change our community in positive ways without asking much for myself in return.”

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