McKendree University's Ileanisse Soto is a Newman Civic Fellow

(LEBANON, Ill., March 14, 2018) — Campus Compact, a non-profit national organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 268 community-minded students who are the 2018 Newman Civic Fellows, including Ileanisse Soto of McKendree University.

The junior from San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, is majoring in organizational communication-human resources with a minor in management. Through McKendree’s chapter of Define American, an organization that uses storytelling to share human elements of immigration, she has initiated fundraisers to assist hurricane relief efforts back home in Puerto Rico.

As a member of the university’s residence life staff, Soto has planned and carried out various programs to create more awareness of social justice issues. She serves on the Social Justice and Equity Committee, which brings together people of diverse backgrounds to advocate for positive change. As the public affairs executive board member of the Student Government Association, she has helped to ensure that students’ voices are heard. Recently she helped organize a town hall meeting to discuss ways to improve nutrition on campus.

“Ileanisse is an outstanding student leader who strives to help educate people on the impact and prevalence of social inequality in our society,” said Dr. James Dennis, McKendree University president. “Her hard work and determination to help those in need give her the potential to stand up for justice and be a terrific agent for positive change in her community and beyond.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional and civic growth. Named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, the Newman Fellowship provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. Newman Fellows may also apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate and engage with such an extraordinary group of students,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “The stories of this year’s Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are bringing people together in their communities to solve pressing problems. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it’s what our country and our world desperately need.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation.

 

McKendree University junior Ileanisse (Lily) Soto, a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow.

 

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