UNO Student Honored As Newman Civic Fellow

Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 262 students who will make up the organization’s 2019-2020 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows, including the University of Nebraska at Omaha's (UNO) own Maria L. Perez Hernandez.

Maria is a junior in the Business Administration Economics and Management program who is fully committed to addressing the barriers faced by refugee, migrant, and diverse students by facilitating opportunities for them to become servant leaders who can contribute to the betterment of our community.

One initiative Maria, who is also a member of the University Honors Program, is most proud of is her involvement in hosting a series of Open Forum community discussions on issues such as DACA, gun violence, and national elections. She has mentored and tutored third to sixth grade refugee and migrant students and helped them learn English. Maria has also worked to help ensure that free hygiene products would be available at all campus buildings after learning how not all females on campus can afford to buy these basic necessities. With dedication to higher education, Maria has also taught financial literacy roles to middle school students and served as a mentor to incoming UNO students to help them have a positive transition into college.

Maria also has managed a full-time course load while maintaining a 3.57 GPA.

Named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, the Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year program that provides training and resources to enhance a student’s personal, professional, and civic growth. The fellowship also provides fellows with access to exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.

“We are proud to recognize each of these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with them,” said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. “The stories of this year's Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are committed to finding solutions to pressing problems in their communities and beyond. 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. Learn more at compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship.